A lithium electrode includes a first lithium layer made of lithium or a lithium alloy, a current collector situated on a first side of the lithium layer, and a lithium-ion-conducting protective layer situated on a second side of the lithium layer opposite the first side. An intermediate layer completely covers the second side of the lithium layer and is situated between the lithium layer and the protective layer. The protective and intermediate layers have an electrical conductivity of less than 10−10 S/cm. The lithium electrode may be used as the anode of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A lithium layer is applied to a current collector, an intermediate layer is applied to the lithium layer so that the intermediate layer completely covers the lithium layer, and a lithium-ion-conducting protective layer is applied to the intermediate layer.