An earth working machine, comprising a drive motor and a working device which can be driven by the drive motor to perform a rotating movement, wherein the drive motor is connected to the working device via an interposed arrangement of a shiftable transmission (50; 150) having at least two shift stages with different torque transmission ratios for transmitting a torque, wherein by means of a first shift stage of the shiftable transmission (50; 150), an input shaft (48; 148) of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) coupled on the input side to the drive motor can be connected directly to an output shaft (52; 152) of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) coupled on the output side to the working device in a torque-transmitting fashion for a common rotational movement with an equal rotational speed, and wherein by means of a second shift stage of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) the input shaft (48; 148) via an interposed arrangement of a gear arrangement (64; 164) can be connected to the output shaft (52; 152) in a torque-transmitting fashion for a common rotational movement with different rotational speeds, wherein the second shift stage comprises a countershaft (74; 174) which is connected to the input shaft (48; 148) via a first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) of the transmission arrangement (64; 164) and which is connected to the output shaft (52; 152) via a second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) of the transmission arrangement (64; 164), wherein the second shift stage further comprises a countershaft clutch (80; 180), with which a torque transmission from the input shaft (48; 148) to the output shaft (52; 152) via the countershaft (74; 174) can be established or interrupted depending on the shift state of the countershaft clutch (80; 180), characterized in that the first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) and the second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) each have a transmission ratio which is different from 1, the transmission ratio of the first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) and the transmission ratio of the second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) differing by no more than 3% relative to the larger of the two transmission ratios. wherein by means of a first shift stage of the shiftable transmission (50; 150), an input shaft (48; 148) of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) coupled on the input side to the drive motor can be connected directly to an output shaft (52; 152) of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) coupled on the output side to the working device in a torque-transmitting fashion for a common rotational movement with an equal rotational speed, and wherein by means of a second shift stage of the shiftable transmission (50; 150) the input shaft (48; 148) via an interposed arrangement of a gear arrangement (64; 164) can be connected to the output shaft (52; 152) in a torque-transmitting fashion for a common rotational movement with different rotational speeds, wherein the second shift stage comprises a countershaft (74; 174) which is connected to the input shaft (48; 148) via a first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) of the transmission arrangement (64; 164) and which is connected to the output shaft (52; 152) via a second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) of the transmission arrangement (64; 164), wherein the second shift stage further comprises a countershaft clutch (80; 180), with which a torque transmission from the input shaft (48; 148) to the output shaft (52; 152) via the countershaft (74; 174) can be established or interrupted depending on the shift state of the countershaft clutch (80; 180), characterized in that the first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) and the second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) each have a transmission ratio which is different from 1, the transmission ratio of the first transmission sub-assemblage (66; 166) and the transmission ratio of the second transmission sub-assemblage (68; 168) differing by no more than 3% relative to the larger of the two transmission ratios.