A short-circuit protection device for limiting, preferably also deactivating, short-circuit currents in high energy direct current networks, in particular short-circuit currents of battery systems in submarine direct current networks. The device includes an electrical resistor, in particular an ohmic resistor, to conduct and limit the short-circuit current in the case of a short-circuit, a first switch connected in parallel with the resistor for bridging the resistor when the network is free of short-circuit, a monitoring and control arrangement for monitoring the current by the switch and for opening the switch if the current through the switch exceeds a specified threshold value.