Exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, comprising - an exhaust gas channel , via which exhaust gas can be discharged from the internal combustion engine to the environment, - an intake channel , via which combustion air can be conducted to the internal combustion engine, - a heat exchanger which can be fluidically connected at one end to the exhaust gas duct and which can be fluidically connected at an opposite end to an exhaust gas recirculation duct which opens into the inlet duct , the heat exchanger having two structurally separate branches which open into a collector which is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas recirculation duct , - an exhaust gas recirculation valve , which is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation channel , via which a flow cross-section of the exhaust gas recirculation channel can be regulated, - a flap valve , which is arranged in the exhaust gas channel , via which exhaust gas can be discharged from the internal combustion engine to the environment, in such a way that the flap valve opens the exhaust gas channel in a first position, closes the exhaust gas channel in a second position in the flow direction downstream of the two branches , so that the exhaust gas flow flows through both branches in the direction of the exhaust gas recirculation channel , and in a third position the flap valve closes the exhaust gas channel in the region between the two branches , so that the exhaust gas flow can pass through the first branch upstream in the exhaust gas flow direction, and the second branch can flow through in the opposite direction depending on the position of the exhaust gas recirculation valve . - an exhaust gas channel , via which exhaust gas can be discharged from the internal combustion engine to the environment, - an intake channel , via which combustion air can be conducted to the internal combustion engine, - a heat exchanger which can be fluidically connected at one end to the exhaust gas duct and which can be fluidically connected at an opposite end to an exhaust gas recirculation duct which opens into the inlet duct , the heat exchanger having two structurally separate branches which open into a collector which is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas recirculation duct , - an exhaust gas recirculation valve , which is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation channel , via which a flow cross-section of the exhaust gas recirculation channel can be regulated, - a flap valve , which is arranged in the exhaust gas channel , via which exhaust gas can be discharged from the internal combustion engine to the environment, in such a way that the flap valve opens the exhaust gas channel in a first position, closes the exhaust gas channel in a second position in the flow direction downstream of the two branches , so that the exhaust gas flow flows through both branches in the direction of the exhaust gas recirculation channel , and in a third position the flap valve closes the exhaust gas channel in the region between the two branches , so that the exhaust gas flow can pass through the first branch upstream in the exhaust gas flow direction, and the second branch can flow through in the opposite direction depending on the position of the exhaust gas recirculation valve . <EOS>