A direct current ("DC") switching apparatus comprising: - at least a first mechanical switching device which is suitable to be positioned along an operating path of an associated DC circuit, said mechanical switching device comprising a fixed contact and a corresponding movable contact which can be actuated between a closed position where said contacts (11, 12) are coupled to each other and current flows along said operating path, to an open position where said contacts (11, 12) are separated from each other so as to interrupt the flow of current along said operating path, wherein an electric arc can ignite between said contacts (11, 12) when said movable contact starts separating from said fixed contact; the apparatus further comprising: - electronic means comprising at least one semiconductor device which is suitable to be positioned along a secondary path and connected in parallel with said first mechanical switching device, wherein said electronic means are configured to allow commuting the flow of current from said operating path to said secondary path and extinguishing through said semiconductor device an electric arc ignited when said movable contact separates from said fixed contact when said first mechanical switching device fails to extinguish it; the apparatus being characterized in that said at least one semiconductor device is in a non-conductive state when said fixed and movable contacts (11, 12) are in said closed position, and wherein said electronic means are configured to switch said semiconductor device in its current conductive state after a first predetermined interval of time (t 1) has elapsed from the instant said movable contact starts separating from the corresponding fixed contact, and wherein said electronic means are configured to subsequently switch said semiconductor device in its non-conductive state either after a second predetermined interval of time (t 2) has elapsed with said second semiconductor device in its conductive state or when the level of current (I c) flowing through said secondary path exceeds said predetermined threshold (I th) before said second predetermined interval of time has elapsed. - at least a first mechanical switching device which is suitable to be positioned along an operating path of an associated DC circuit, said mechanical switching device comprising a fixed contact and a corresponding movable contact which can be actuated between a closed position where said contacts (11, 12) are coupled to each other and current flows along said operating path, to an open position where said contacts (11, 12) are separated from each other so as to interrupt the flow of current along said operating path, wherein an electric arc can ignite between said contacts (11, 12) when said movable contact starts separating from said fixed contact; the apparatus further comprising: - electronic means comprising at least one semiconductor device which is suitable to be positioned along a secondary path and connected in parallel with said first mechanical switching device, wherein said electronic means are configured to allow commuting the flow of current from said operating path to said secondary path and extinguishing through said semiconductor device an electric arc ignited when said movable contact separates from said fixed contact when said first mechanical switching device fails to extinguish it; - electronic means comprising at least one semiconductor device which is suitable to be positioned along a secondary path and connected in parallel with said first mechanical switching device, wherein said electronic means are configured to allow commuting the flow of current from said operating path to said secondary path and extinguishing through said semiconductor device an electric arc ignited when said movable contact separates from said fixed contact when said first mechanical switching device fails to extinguish it;