Germanium　(Ge)-based　materials　can　serve　as　promising　anode　candidates　for　high-energy　lithium　ion　batteries　(LIBs).　However,　the　rapid　capacity　decay　caused　by　huge　volume　expansion　severely　retards　their　application.　Herein,　we　report　a　facile　and　controllable　synthesis　of　Ge　nanowire　anode　materials　through　molten　salt　electrolysis.　The　optimal　Ge　nanowires　can　deliver　a　capacity　of　1058.9　mAh　g(-1)　at　300　mA　g(-1)　and　a　capacity　above　602.5　mAh　g(-1)　at　3000　mA　g(-1)　for　900　cycles.　By　in　situ　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　in　situ　X-ray　diffraction,　the　multiple-step　phase　transformation　and　good　structural　reversibility　of　the　Ge　nanowires　during　charge/discharge　are　elucidated.　When　coupled　with　a　lithium-rich　Li(1.2)Mn(0.56)7Ni(0.167)Co(0.06)7O(2)　cathode　in　a　full　battery,　the　Ge　nanowire　anode　leads　to　a　relatively　stable　capacity　with　a　retention　of　84.5%　over　100　cycles.　This　research　highlights　the　significance　of　molten-salt　electrolysis　for　the　synthesis　of　alloy-type　anode　materials　toward　high-energy　LIBs.