A rotary switch for controlling an, in particular electronic, parking brake device of a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, having a rotary knob and a rotary-knob counterpart, the rotary knob and the rotary-knob counterpart being rotatably connected to one another and rotatable in relation to one another about a common axis of rotation, the rotary knob additionally being axially displaceable along the common axis of rotation in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, the rotary switch having at least one actuation switching state (1S2P) and at least one release switching state (1S2D), the actuation switching state (1S2P) being assigned to the actuation of the parking brake device and the release switching state (1S2D) being assigned to the releasing of the parking brake device; the actuation switching state (1S2P) being the result of a first rotational movement of the rotary knob in a first direction of rotation (1DR1) and/or of a first axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in a first direction of displacement (1VR1), in each case in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, and the release switching state (1S2D) being the result of a second rotational movement of the rotary knob in a second direction of rotation (1DR2) and/or of a second axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1), in each case in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, the first direction of rotation (1DR1) being opposite to the second direction of rotation (1DR2), the rotary switch having at least one first axial stop, at least one second axial stop and at least one initial axial position, the rotary knob being located closer to the rotary-knob counterpart at the first axial stop than at the second axial stop; characterised in that the actuation switching state (1S2P) is the result of the first axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1) starting from the initial axial position and finishing at the first axial stop, and that the release switching state (1S2D) is the result of the second axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1) starting from the axial starting position and finishing at the first axial stop. the rotary knob and the rotary-knob counterpart being rotatably connected to one another and rotatable in relation to one another about a common axis of rotation, the rotary knob additionally being axially displaceable along the common axis of rotation in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, the rotary switch having at least one actuation switching state (1S2P) and at least one release switching state (1S2D), the actuation switching state (1S2P) being assigned to the actuation of the parking brake device and the release switching state (1S2D) being assigned to the releasing of the parking brake device; the actuation switching state (1S2P) being the result of a first rotational movement of the rotary knob in a first direction of rotation (1DR1) and/or of a first axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in a first direction of displacement (1VR1), in each case in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, and the release switching state (1S2D) being the result of a second rotational movement of the rotary knob in a second direction of rotation (1DR2) and/or of a second axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1), in each case in relation to the rotary-knob counterpart, the first direction of rotation (1DR1) being opposite to the second direction of rotation (1DR2), the rotary switch having at least one first axial stop, at least one second axial stop and at least one initial axial position, the rotary knob being located closer to the rotary-knob counterpart at the first axial stop than at the second axial stop; the actuation switching state (1S2P) is the result of the first axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1) starting from the initial axial position and finishing at the first axial stop, and that the release switching state (1S2D) is the result of the second axial displacement movement of the rotary knob in the first direction of displacement (1VR1) starting from the axial starting position and finishing at the first axial stop.