Power converter for operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine, comprising: a first converter element, a second converter element and a first terminal connection, a second terminal connection and a third terminal connection for connecting the power converter to a three-phase energy supply, wherein the first converter element comprises a first rectifier circuit and a second rectifier circuit, the second converter element comprises a third rectifier circuit, wherein the first rectifier circuit has a first AC-side pole and a second AC-side pole, the second rectifier circuit has a third AC-side pole and a fourth AC-side pole and the third rectifier circuit has a fifth AC-side pole and a sixth AC-side pole, the first rectifier circuit and the second rectifier circuit are connected in parallel on the DC-voltage side and are connected to a common first DC-voltage-side pole and a common second DC-voltage-side pole, wherein the third rectifier circuit is connected on the DC-voltage side to a third DC-voltage-side pole and a fourth DC-voltage-side pole, wherein the first DC-voltage-side pole is at least connectable to the third DC-voltage-side pole by means of a first current path and the second DC-voltage-side pole is at least connectable to the fourth DC-voltage-side pole by means of a second current path, wherein the first current path and the second current path each comprise a semiconductor switch (64, 64'), and wherein the power converter is configured such that the second converter element is supplied with energy from a first DC voltage intermediate circuit connected to the first DC-voltage-side pole and the second DC-voltage-side pole when the first current path and the second current path are closed, wherein the respective semiconductor switch (64, 64') is part of the first rectifier circuit or third rectifier circuit. a first converter element, a second converter element and a first terminal connection, a second terminal connection and a third terminal connection for connecting the power converter to a three-phase energy supply, wherein the first converter element comprises a first rectifier circuit and a second rectifier circuit, the second converter element comprises a third rectifier circuit, wherein the first rectifier circuit has a first AC-side pole and a second AC-side pole, the second rectifier circuit has a third AC-side pole and a fourth AC-side pole and the third rectifier circuit has a fifth AC-side pole and a sixth AC-side pole, the first rectifier circuit and the second rectifier circuit are connected in parallel on the DC-voltage side and are connected to a common first DC-voltage-side pole and a common second DC-voltage-side pole, wherein the third rectifier circuit is connected on the DC-voltage side to a third DC-voltage-side pole and a fourth DC-voltage-side pole, wherein the first DC-voltage-side pole is at least connectable to the third DC-voltage-side pole by means of a first current path and the second DC-voltage-side pole is at least connectable to the fourth DC-voltage-side pole by means of a second current path, wherein the first current path and the second current path each comprise a semiconductor switch (64, 64'), and wherein the power converter is configured such that the second converter element is supplied with energy from a first DC voltage intermediate circuit connected to the first DC-voltage-side pole and the second DC-voltage-side pole when the first current path and the second current path are closed, wherein the respective semiconductor switch (64, 64') is part of the first rectifier circuit or third rectifier circuit.