Control device for a hydraulic steering apparatus having a control input apparatus and an electrically actuatable valve for actuating a steering actuator of the steering apparatus, which, as a function of steering setpoints recorded on the control input apparatus, can be electrically actuated via at least one first control path (16, 18) between the control input apparatus and the valve, wherein the control device is set up such that the respective first control path (16, 18) can be deactivated as a function of steering setpoints recorded on the control input apparatus via a second control path (20, 22) which is in each case assigned to said first control path (16, 18) and differs at least partially from each first control path (16, 18) when said first control path (16, 18) is activated, or can be activated if said first control path (16, 18) has been deactivated, and wherein a signal generating apparatus (48, 60) is provided in the respective second control path (20, 22) to generate a switching signal as a function of the steering setpoints recorded on the control input apparatus, by means of which signal the first control path (16, 18) to which this second control path (20, 22) is assigned, can either be interrupted or closed, characterised in that a switch (34, 36) is arranged in the respective first control path (16, 18), said switch being actuated by the respective switching signal and either interrupting or closing said first control path (16, 18), in order to generate the steering signal of a respective first control path (16, 18) and to generate the switching signal by means of which said first control path (16, 18) can be interrupted or closed, at least one sensor (1.1 to 4.1, 5.1, 6.1; 1.2 to 4.2, 5.2, 6.2) is provided in each case, which record steering setpoints on the control input apparatus independently of each other, a valve piston of the valve can be moved in mutually opposite directions by means of solenoid actuating devices (26, 28) arranged on opposite sides of the valve piston, in that the control device is set up such that, when the respective switch (34, 36) in the respective first control path (16, 18) leading to said one solenoid actuating device (26, 28) permits said one solenoid actuating device (26, 28) to be energised, at the same time the respective switch (36, 34) in the respective first path (18, 16) leading to the other solenoid actuating device (28, 26) at least partially interrupts said first path (18, 16) and thus prevents the other solenoid actuating device (28, 26) being energised, and in that a plurality of sensors (1.1 to 6.1) are provided to control energisation of said one solenoid actuating device, said sensors recording steering setpoints on the control input apparatus independently of the plurality of sensors (1.2 to 6.2) provided to control energisation of the other solenoid actuating device. wherein a signal generating apparatus (48, 60) is provided in the respective second control path (20, 22) to generate a switching signal as a function of the steering setpoints recorded on the control input apparatus, by means of which signal the first control path (16, 18) to which this second control path (20, 22) is assigned, can either be interrupted or closed, characterised in that a switch (34, 36) is arranged in the respective first control path (16, 18), said switch being actuated by the respective switching signal and either interrupting or closing said first control path (16, 18), in order to generate the steering signal of a respective first control path (16, 18) and to generate the switching signal by means of which said first control path (16, 18) can be interrupted or closed, at least one sensor (1.1 to 4.1, 5.1, 6.1; 1.2 to 4.2, 5.2, 6.2) is provided in each case, which record steering setpoints on the control input apparatus independently of each other, a valve piston of the valve can be moved in mutually opposite directions by means of solenoid actuating devices (26, 28) arranged on opposite sides of the valve piston, in that the control device is set up such that, when the respective switch (34, 36) in the respective first control path (16, 18) leading to said one solenoid actuating device (26, 28) permits said one solenoid actuating device (26, 28) to be energised, at the same time the respective switch (36, 34) in the respective first path (18, 16) leading to the other solenoid actuating device (28, 26) at least partially interrupts said first path (18, 16) and thus prevents the other solenoid actuating device (28, 26) being energised, and in that a plurality of sensors (1.1 to 6.1) are provided to control energisation of said one solenoid actuating device, said sensors recording steering setpoints on the control input apparatus independently of the plurality of sensors (1.2 to 6.2) provided to control energisation of the other solenoid actuating device.