Résumé : The γ -ray strength functions and level densities of 73,74Ge have been extracted up to the neutron-separationenergy Sn from particle-γ coincidence data using the Oslo method. Moreover, the γ -ray strength function of74Ge above Sn has been determined from photoneutron measurements; hence these two experiments cover therange of Eγ≈ 1–13 MeV for 74Ge. The obtained data show that both 73,74Ge display an increase in strength atlow γ energies. The experimental γ -ray strength functions are compared with M1 strength functions deducedfrom average B(M1) values calculated within the shell model for a large number of transitions. The observedlow-energy enhancements in 73,74Ge are adopted in the calculations of the 72,73Ge(n,γ ) cross sections, wherethere are no direct experimental data. Calculated reaction rates for more neutron-rich germanium isotopes areshown to be strongly dependent on the presence of the low-energy enhancement.