A method for transmitting error correction symbols, wherein encoded code symbols are generated using a generator matrix of a block code and the encoded code symbols are transmitted from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein transmission errors occur in the received code symbols, wherein the error correction symbols to be transmitted are generated in accordance with the following steps: - forming, line by line, a first and a second matrix (M1, M2) from an encoding matrix derived from the generator matrix in such a manner that the i-th line of the encoding matrix is copied either into the first matrix for an error-free received i-th encoding symbol or into the second matrix for an erroneously received i-th encoding symbol; - marking each line of the second matrix with a line index corresponding to a line number of the encoding matrix; - transforming the first matrix by elementary line transformations and/or exchange of columns into a third matrix including RG-independent lines, wherein RG corresponds to a rank of the first matrix, and wherein, when columns are exchanged, an identical exchange of columns is, in addition, performed in the second matrix; - creating a fourth matrix by copying the elements of the RG-independent lines of the third matrix and by adding the lines of the second matrix including the line indices after the independent lines; - transforming the fourth matrix by elementary line transformations and/or exchange of columns into a fifth matrix in such a manner that RH-independent lines are generated, wherein RH corresponds to a rank of the fourth matrix, and wherein, when lines are exchanged, the respective line indices are exchanged as well and only lines having line indices are eliminated; - detecting the lines in the RH-independent lines of the fifth matrix which comprise a line index based on the second matrix; - unambiguously identifying one encoded code symbol each by means of each detected line index, which code symbol is requested in the form of an error correction symbol by the receiving device for error-free reconstruction of the source symbols and is transmitted by the transmitting device. - forming, line by line, a first and a second matrix (M1, M2) from an encoding matrix derived from the generator matrix in such a manner that the i-th line of the encoding matrix is copied either into the first matrix for an error-free received i-th encoding symbol or into the second matrix for an erroneously received i-th encoding symbol; - marking each line of the second matrix with a line index corresponding to a line number of the encoding matrix; - transforming the first matrix by elementary line transformations and/or exchange of columns into a third matrix including RG-independent lines, wherein RG corresponds to a rank of the first matrix, and wherein, when columns are exchanged, an identical exchange of columns is, in addition, performed in the second matrix; - creating a fourth matrix by copying the elements of the RG-independent lines of the third matrix and by adding the lines of the second matrix including the line indices after the independent lines; - transforming the fourth matrix by elementary line transformations and/or exchange of columns into a fifth matrix in such a manner that RH-independent lines are generated, wherein RH corresponds to a rank of the fourth matrix, and wherein, when lines are exchanged, the respective line indices are exchanged as well and only lines having line indices are eliminated; - detecting the lines in the RH-independent lines of the fifth matrix which comprise a line index based on the second matrix; - unambiguously identifying one encoded code symbol each by means of each detected line index, which code symbol is requested in the form of an error correction symbol by the receiving device for error-free reconstruction of the source symbols and is transmitted by the transmitting device.