Device for interrupting a direct electric current flowing in a first DC conductor and/or a second DC conductor, wherein the first DC conductor is connected at one end to a first connection, and the second DC conductor is connected at one end to a second connection, of a DC system, in particular a DC transmission system, wherein the device has: a first controllable switching system that can be electrically connected between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor; and a second controllable switching system that can be connected, in the first DC conductor or in the second DC conductor, between a branch point, leading to the first switching system, in the first DC conductor or the second DC conductor, and the first connection, or second connection, of the DC system, characterized in that the device also has: a control system that is designed, if a direct current flowing in the first DC conductor and/or the second DC conductor is above a threshold value, in particular if there is a short circuit in the DC transmission system: to close the first switching system for a period of time, and to open the second switching system when the first switching system is closed, wherein the period of time is between 0.5 ms and 50 ms, wherein the control system is also designed to open the first switching system after opening the second switching system, wherein the first controllable switching system has or is a first electronic switching system, and wherein the second controllable switching system has or is a series circuit of a second electronic switching system and a mechanical switching system. a first controllable switching system that can be electrically connected between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor; and a second controllable switching system that can be connected, in the first DC conductor or in the second DC conductor, between a branch point, leading to the first switching system, in the first DC conductor or the second DC conductor, and the first connection, or second connection, of the DC system, characterized in that the device also has: a control system that is designed, if a direct current flowing in the first DC conductor and/or the second DC conductor is above a threshold value, in particular if there is a short circuit in the DC transmission system: to close the first switching system for a period of time, and to open the second switching system when the first switching system is closed, wherein the period of time is between 0.5 ms and 50 ms, wherein the control system is also designed to open the first switching system after opening the second switching system, wherein the first controllable switching system has or is a first electronic switching system, and wherein the second controllable switching system has or is a series circuit of a second electronic switching system and a mechanical switching system. to close the first switching system for a period of time, and to open the second switching system when the first switching system is closed, wherein the period of time is between 0.5 ms and 50 ms, wherein the control system is also designed to open the first switching system after opening the second switching system, wherein the first controllable switching system has or is a first electronic switching system, and wherein the second controllable switching system has or is a series circuit of a second electronic switching system and a mechanical switching system.