Germanium yakawanikwa mukupera kwenguva munhoroondo yekemisitiri. Germanium inenge iri panhamba makumi mashanu mukuwanda kwezvinhu zvepasi. Muna 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev akafanotaura kuvapo kwayo uye zvimwe zvezvinhu zvayo kubva panzvimbo yayo pane yake periodic table, uye akaitumidza kuti ekasilicon. Makore makumi maviri gare gare, muna 1886, Clemens Winkler akawana chinhu chitsva pamwe nesirivheri nesarufa, mune isingawanzoitika mineral inonzi argyrodite. Kunyange zvazvo chinhu chitsva ichi chakafanana ne arsenic ne antimony muchitarisiko, kusanganisa kwehuwandu mumakomponi kwakaenderana nekufanotaura kwaMendeleev kwehukama hwesirilicon. Winkler akatumidza chinhu ichi zita renyika yake, Germany. Nhasi, germanium inonyanya kucherwa kubva ku spiteite primary ore (hafu yesirivheri), uye kunyange zvazvo mhangura kana zinc yakawanikwazve kutengeserana. Mubvunzo: Mugore ra 1886, Clemens Winkler akawana chinhu chitsva pamwe nesirivheri nesarufa, mune chicherwa chisingawanzoitika chinonzi arg
Muna 1869