We have investigated the Li-induced phase transition from the Ge(111)3×1:Li to the Ge(111)sqrt[3]×sqrt[3]:Li reconstruction with photoemission. The Ge(111)3×1:Li reconstruction can be described as parallel rows of Ge atoms separated by single rows of Li atoms. The Ge(111)sqrt[3]×sqrt[3]:Li reconstruction, on the other hands, has to be described in terms of a Li-germanide phase extending over at least two atomic layers.