Protective switching device, in particular line circuit breaker, - having an input connection and an output connection which are designed to make contact between the protective switching device and an electrical line, - having a switching contact which has a fixed contact piece arranged in a stationary manner and a moving contact piece movable relative thereto, which contact pieces are designed in such a manner that an arc is formed between the moving contact piece and the fixed contact piece during opening of the current-conducting switching contact, - in which the switching contact is connected to the input connection and to the output connection in an electrically conductive manner via a current path, the current path having a current-conducting section which is formed in such a manner and interacts with the arc in such a manner that a resulting electromagnetic field is formed and interacts with the arc in such a manner that the arc is driven away from the switching contact, the current-conducting section being formed in such a manner that it forms a substantially u-shaped current guide with the arc which is struck between the moving contact piece and the fixed contact piece at the time of the contact opening, the fixed contact piece being connected to an electrically conductive contact horn, characterized - in that the protective switching device has a magnetic tripping system which is connected to the input connection in an electrically conductive manner via a coil and has a plunger which is mounted such that it is movable relative to the coil and acts on the switching contact directly and/or indirectly in the event of a short circuit in order to cause the switching contact to open as a result of the moving contact piece moving away from the fixed contact piece, - in that the magnetic tripping system has a magnet yoke via which the coil is connected to the fixed contact piece in an electrically conductive manner, the current-conducting section being formed as part of the magnet yoke, and - in that the magnet yoke has a forked design in the region of the current-conducting section and has two limbs, with the result that the moving contact piece and the moving contact carrier are at least partially arranged between the two limbs when the switching contact is closed. - having an input connection and an output connection which are designed to make contact between the protective switching device and an electrical line, - having a switching contact which has a fixed contact piece arranged in a stationary manner and a moving contact piece movable relative thereto, which contact pieces are designed in such a manner that an arc is formed between the moving contact piece and the fixed contact piece during opening of the current-conducting switching contact, - in which the switching contact is connected to the input connection and to the output connection in an electrically conductive manner via a current path, - in that the protective switching device has a magnetic tripping system which is connected to the input connection in an electrically conductive manner via a coil and has a plunger which is mounted such that it is movable relative to the coil and acts on the switching contact directly and/or indirectly in the event of a short circuit in order to cause the switching contact to open as a result of the moving contact piece moving away from the fixed contact piece, - in that the magnetic tripping system has a magnet yoke via which the coil is connected to the fixed contact piece in an electrically conductive manner, the current-conducting section being formed as part of the magnet yoke, and - in that the magnet yoke has a forked design in the region of the current-conducting section and has two limbs, with the result that the moving contact piece and the moving contact carrier are at least partially arranged between the two limbs when the switching contact is closed.