A direct-current switching device switches direct currents, in particular direct currents in the kiloampere range. The switching device contains a switching unit, a resonant circuit, and an overvoltage arrester. During the switching off of the switching unit, the resonant circuit produces an oscillating resonant current, which is superposed with the direct current still flowing through the switching unit during the switching off of the switching unit. Accordingly, connected in series with the switching unit, hereinafter referred to as the first switching unit, is a second switching unit, the switching behavior of which differs from the switching behavior of the first switching unit, and the resonant circuit and the arrester lie electrically in parallel with the series connection.