X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements confirm that RFe2Ge2 (R = T
b, Dy and Ho) compounds show the tetragonal ThCr2Si2 type of crystal s
tructure. Magnetization and magnetic susceptibility data indicate anti
ferromagnetic behaviour below the Neel temperatures at 8.5 K in TbFe2G
e2 and 3.35 K in DyFe2Ge2. A metamagnetic transition at H-c = 11 kOe a
nd T = 4.2 K has been detected in TbFe2Ge2. The other two compounds gi
ve at 4.2 K magnetization curves characteristic for paramagnetic mater
ials up to H = 50 kOe. The magnitudes of magnetic moments at H = 50 kO
e are smaller than the free ion values for all three compounds. TbFe2G
e2 and DyFe2Ge2 exhibit at 1.5 K modulated antiferromagnetic order des
cribed by two component wavevectors k = \k(x), O, k(z)\. The magnetic
moments are localized on the lanthanide ions and amount at 1.5 K to 7.
68(11) and 7.3(3) mu(B) in TbFe2Ge2 and DyFe2Ge2 respectively. Diffuse
magnetic peaks observed at 1.5 K in the neutron diffraction pattern o
f HoFe2Ge2 indicate that a long-range antiferromagnetic order starts t
o set up at this temperature.