Germanium nanowires using gold as catalyst were grown by MBE on differently oriented germanium substrates in order to study growth direction and faceting. All experiments led exclusively to < 1 1 0 > grown nanowires independent of the chosen substrate orientation. The growth angles as determined by SEM correspond to those directions which are expected for the cubic crystal structure. Furthermore, the faceting of sidewalls and tip of the nanowires was elucidated by TEM studies. The results are discussed regarding surface energies especially in comparison with silicon nanowires where gold wetting has a strong influence on the growth directions of nanowires. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.