Electrical switching device with locking function

A switching device comprising at least one stationary contact and a movable contact cooperating therewith, and comprising an electromagnetic actuation device for driving the movable contact, wherein the electromagnetic actuation device comprises an excitation coil for generating a magnetic field, a magnetic yoke for amplifying the flux density of the magnetic field, and a magnet armature configured to be pulled by the magnetic field from a starting position to a pulled position and connected to the movable contact, wherein the electromagnetic actuation device further comprises a locking element movable from a locking position, in which the locking element prevents movement of the magnet armature and/or the movable contact, into an unlocking position, in which the locking element releases a movement of the magnet armature and/or of the movable contact, wherein the locking element consists at least partially of a ferromagnetic material and is configured so as to be transferred from the unlocking position into the locking position due to the action of the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic yoke is configured such that the magnetic yoke has a discontinuity when the locking element is in the locking position, the discontinuity of the magnetic yoke being closed by the locking element when the locking element is in the unlocking position, and wherein the magnetic yoke comprises an upper yoke plate and a lower yoke plate that are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from one another and substantially perpendicular to the magnet armature and between which the excitation coil is arranged, the locking element being arranged on the two yoke plates such that the two yoke plates are completed to form a U-shaped section when the locking element is in the unlocking position.