The homogeneous gas-phase thermal decomposition kinetics of germane have been measured in a single-pulse shock tube between 950 and 1060 K at pressures around 4000 torr. The initial decomposition is GeH4 -GeH2 + H2 in its pressure-dependent regime, with log k~~~~( 4 m ) = 13.83 f 0.78 -50,750 f 3570 ca1/2.303RT. RRKM calculations suggest that the high-pressure Arrhenius parameters are log k GeH4(M -a) = 15.5 -54,300 cd2.303RT.Extrapolations to static system pyrolysis conditions (T -600 K, P -200 torr) give homogeneous reaction rates which are much slower than those observed, hence the static system pyrolysis of germane must be predominantly heterogeneous. Shock-initiated pyrolysis reaction stoichiometry is 2 mol H2 per mole GeH4, suggesting that the subsequent decomposition of germylene is essentially quantitative. Investigations of the hydrogen product yields for pyrolysis of GeD4 in @CH3 further indicate that the germylene decomposition reaction is mainly GeHz -H2 + Ge, hut that a small amount of reaction to H atoms may also occur.