Double contact switch (10; 10'; 10"), having - a first and a second tubular vacuum switching chamber (12, 14), which are designed as partial switching chambers of a switching tube, - an electrode, which is fixed in the switching tube and arranged between the first and second vacuum switching chambers (12, 14), having a first fixed contact protruding into the first vacuum switching chamber and a second fixed contact protruding into the second vacuum switching chamber, - a first electrode (24; 24'; 24"), which is arranged in the first vacuum switching chamber and movable in the axial direction therein, having a contact-bearing region, which is sealed off in a gas-tight manner from the exterior of the first vacuum switching chamber, - a second electrode, which is arranged in the second vacuum switching chamber, having a contact-bearing region which is sealed off in a gas-tight manner from the exterior of the second vacuum switching chamber, - a housing, wherein - the second electrode is fixed to the housing and the switching tube is moveably mounted in relation to the fixed second electrode and the first electrode is also moveably mounted in relation to the switching tube and the second electrode and the first electrode (24; 24'; 24") is moveable in relation to the switching tube for opening and closing the contacts, and characterised in that the double contact switch further has the following features: - stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36', 38"; 39") are provided such that the axial movement of the first electrode (24; 24'; 24"; 24′′′) for opening the switching contacts in the vacuum switching chambers (12, 14) in relation to the switching tube is limited to a predetermined distance (D; D'; D") and, when the stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36", 38"; 39") meet, a mechanical impulse acting on the switching tube is generated in the direction of the axial movement to break any existing welding of the contacts, wherein the stop means have a step in the shaft of the first electrode (24") and a stop surface for the step (36") formed by the inner end face of a guide collar (39") for the first electrode (24"). - a first and a second tubular vacuum switching chamber (12, 14), which are designed as partial switching chambers of a switching tube, - an electrode, which is fixed in the switching tube and arranged between the first and second vacuum switching chambers (12, 14), having a first fixed contact protruding into the first vacuum switching chamber and a second fixed contact protruding into the second vacuum switching chamber, - a first electrode (24; 24'; 24"), which is arranged in the first vacuum switching chamber and movable in the axial direction therein, having a contact-bearing region, which is sealed off in a gas-tight manner from the exterior of the first vacuum switching chamber, - a second electrode, which is arranged in the second vacuum switching chamber, having a contact-bearing region which is sealed off in a gas-tight manner from the exterior of the second vacuum switching chamber, - a housing, wherein - the second electrode is fixed to the housing and the switching tube is moveably mounted in relation to the fixed second electrode and the first electrode is also moveably mounted in relation to the switching tube and the second electrode and the first electrode (24; 24'; 24") is moveable in relation to the switching tube for opening and closing the contacts, and characterised in that the double contact switch further has the following features: - stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36', 38"; 39") are provided such that the axial movement of the first electrode (24; 24'; 24"; 24′′′) for opening the switching contacts in the vacuum switching chambers (12, 14) in relation to the switching tube is limited to a predetermined distance (D; D'; D") and, when the stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36", 38"; 39") meet, a mechanical impulse acting on the switching tube is generated in the direction of the axial movement to break any existing welding of the contacts, wherein the stop means have a step in the shaft of the first electrode (24") and a stop surface for the step (36") formed by the inner end face of a guide collar (39") for the first electrode (24"). - stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36', 38"; 39") are provided such that the axial movement of the first electrode (24; 24'; 24"; 24′′′) for opening the switching contacts in the vacuum switching chambers (12, 14) in relation to the switching tube is limited to a predetermined distance (D; D'; D") and, when the stop means (36, 38; 36', 38'; 36", 38"; 39") meet, a mechanical impulse acting on the switching tube is generated in the direction of the axial movement to break any existing welding of the contacts, wherein the stop means have a step in the shaft of the first electrode (24") and a stop surface for the step (36") formed by the inner end face of a guide collar (39") for the first electrode (24").