Device for discharging an intermediate circuit capacitor, comprising a converter for electrical supply of an electric machine driving a vehicle, which has the intermediate circuit capacitor and a discharge device connected in parallel to the intermediate circuit capacitor with a series connection of a controllable switching element and a load resistor, and a high-voltage battery feeding the converter on the input side, wherein the converter has a control device which is configured to control the switching element - depending on a signal state at an input of the control device to perform a fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e), in which the switching element conducts, with a fixed predetermined duration and a fixed predetermined first waiting time between two consecutive switching operations (18a-18e) and - after the last of the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) and expiration of a fixed predetermined second waiting time, which is longer than the first waiting time, to repeatedly perform further switching operations (18f, 18g) wherein the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) is at least two, wherein the duration is selected such that when the intermediate circuit capacitor is charged with a maximum continuous voltage of the high-voltage battery, it is discharged to a protective low voltage when the intermediate circuit capacitor is disconnected from the high-voltage battery, wherein between two consecutive further switching operations (18f, 18g) the second waiting time is provided in each case, wherein the load resistor and its heat transfer to the converter are configured such that the load resistor is not damaged when the maximum continuous voltage of the high-voltage battery is applied during each of the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) and cooling during the or a respective waiting time. - depending on a signal state at an input of the control device to perform a fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e), in which the switching element conducts, with a fixed predetermined duration and a fixed predetermined first waiting time between two consecutive switching operations (18a-18e) and - after the last of the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) and expiration of a fixed predetermined second waiting time, which is longer than the first waiting time, to repeatedly perform further switching operations (18f, 18g) wherein the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) is at least two, wherein the duration is selected such that when the intermediate circuit capacitor is charged with a maximum continuous voltage of the high-voltage battery, it is discharged to a protective low voltage when the intermediate circuit capacitor is disconnected from the high-voltage battery, wherein between two consecutive further switching operations (18f, 18g) the second waiting time is provided in each case, wherein the load resistor and its heat transfer to the converter are configured such that the load resistor is not damaged when the maximum continuous voltage of the high-voltage battery is applied during each of the fixed predetermined number of switching operations (18a-18e) and cooling during the or a respective waiting time.