A middle-door closing mechanism for pulling a middle door shut in two pulling-close directions (17, 18), comprising pull-and-retard means consisting of two pulling and slowing-down devices (20, 120), with one of said pulling and slowing-down devices adapted to be secured to a body of a piece of furniture and the other one of said devices adapted to be secured to the middle door, and with the pulling and slowing- down devices (20, 120) each comprising an entrainment element (71; 171) adapted to be moved between a parked position (21; 121) and an end position (22; 122), said parked position secured in a force fit and/or a shape fit manner and said movement taking place under the discharge of repeatedly loadable energy storage means (91; 191) and reduction of a displacement space (65; 165) in a cylinder-piston unit (41; 141), characterized in that - the entrainment members (71; 171) each include two abutments (77, 78; 177, 178) on a supporting plate (76; 176) and disposed in a mutually offset relationship in the longitudinal direction as well as in the transverse direction of entrainment element (71; 171); - the abutments (77; 78; 177; 178) each have thereon an abutment surface (84; 184; 85; 185); - with the abutment surface (84; 184) on the abutment (77; 177) facing the respective parked position (21; 121) constituting a pulling surface (84; 184) and - the abutment surface (85; 185) on the abutment (78; 178) facing the respective end position (22; 122) constituting a pushing surface (85; 185) - so that the entrainment elements (71; 171) each have a pulling surface (84; 184) and a pushing surface (85; 185) offset relative thereto, - with the vectors centrally normal to pulling surface (84; 184) and to pushing surface (85; 185) of each individual entrainment element (71; 171) pointing in at least approximately opposite directions; and - with the mutually facing pulling surface (84; 184) and pushing surface (85; 185) of both entrainment elements (71; 171) forming a contacting couple (15; 16) in at least part of the stroke of the pulling and slowing-down devices (20; 120). - the entrainment members (71; 171) each include two abutments (77, 78; 177, 178) on a supporting plate (76; 176) and disposed in a mutually offset relationship in the longitudinal direction as well as in the transverse direction of entrainment element (71; 171); - the abutments (77; 78; 177; 178) each have thereon an abutment surface (84; 184; 85; 185); - with the abutment surface (84; 184) on the abutment (77; 177) facing the respective parked position (21; 121) constituting a pulling surface (84; 184) and - the abutment surface (85; 185) on the abutment (78; 178) facing the respective end position (22; 122) constituting a pushing surface (85; 185) - so that the entrainment elements (71; 171) each have a pulling surface (84; 184) and a pushing surface (85; 185) offset relative thereto, - with the vectors centrally normal to pulling surface (84; 184) and to pushing surface (85; 185) of each individual entrainment element (71; 171) pointing in at least approximately opposite directions; and - with the mutually facing pulling surface (84; 184) and pushing surface (85; 185) of both entrainment elements (71; 171) forming a contacting couple (15; 16) in at least part of the stroke of the pulling and slowing-down devices (20; 120).