Apparatus for switching direct currents in branches of a DC voltage network node having - a first switch-off branch, in which a power switching unit is arranged, which has a series circuit of two-pole submodules having at least one power semiconductor switch that can be switched on and off, - an operating current branch, in which a mechanical switch is arranged, and - an electronic auxiliary switch, which is arranged in the operating current branch in series with the mechanical switch, characterized in that - the operating current branch is connected in parallel with the switch-off branch by means of a parallel switch, - the operating current branch is connected to a branch connection for connection of an associated branch of the DC voltage network node, - at least one further operating current branch is provided, which is connected in parallel with the first switch-off branch by means of a further parallel switch, - a mechanical switch and an electronic auxiliary switch in series therewith is arranged in each operating current branch, - each operating current branch is connected to a branch connection for connection of an associated branch of the DC voltage network node, - each operating current branch is connected in parallel with the switch-off branch by means of a parallel switch, - the submodules of the power switching unit each have an energy store, and - the submodules of the power switching unit each form a half-bridge circuit or a full-bridge circuit, wherein, in the case of the half-bridge circuit, a series circuit composed of two power semiconductor switches is connected in parallel with the energy store, a submodule connection terminal of the submodule is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the series circuit, and a second submodule connection terminal is connected to one of the poles of the energy store, or wherein, in the case of the full-bridge circuit, two series circuits of in each case two power semiconductor switches are provided, wherein a submodule connection terminal is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the first series circuit and a second submodule connection terminal is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the second series circuit. - a first switch-off branch, in which a power switching unit is arranged, which has a series circuit of two-pole submodules having at least one power semiconductor switch that can be switched on and off, - an operating current branch, in which a mechanical switch is arranged, and - an electronic auxiliary switch, which is arranged in the operating current branch in series with the mechanical switch, - the operating current branch is connected in parallel with the switch-off branch by means of a parallel switch, - the operating current branch is connected to a branch connection for connection of an associated branch of the DC voltage network node, - at least one further operating current branch is provided, which is connected in parallel with the first switch-off branch by means of a further parallel switch, - a mechanical switch and an electronic auxiliary switch in series therewith is arranged in each operating current branch, - each operating current branch is connected to a branch connection for connection of an associated branch of the DC voltage network node, - each operating current branch is connected in parallel with the switch-off branch by means of a parallel switch, - the submodules of the power switching unit each have an energy store, and - the submodules of the power switching unit each form a half-bridge circuit or a full-bridge circuit, wherein, in the case of the half-bridge circuit, a series circuit composed of two power semiconductor switches is connected in parallel with the energy store, a submodule connection terminal of the submodule is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the series circuit, and a second submodule connection terminal is connected to one of the poles of the energy store, or wherein, in the case of the full-bridge circuit, two series circuits of in each case two power semiconductor switches are provided, wherein a submodule connection terminal is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the first series circuit and a second submodule connection terminal is connected to the potential point between the power semiconductor switches of the second series circuit.