Switching device suitable for direct current operation

A switching device suitable for direct current operation, the device comprising:

• a first current path;
• and
• a second current path,
• wherein each of the first and second current paths includes a respective first connection and a respective second connection,
• wherein the first connections are arranged on a first side of the switching device and the second connections are arranged on a second side of the switching device,
• wherein each current path includes a respective contact pair, having a first and a second contact,
• wherein each of the second contacts is arranged on a respective moveable contact member,
• wherein, in a switched-on status of the switching device, both the first and the second contacts are in contact with each other,
• wherein each contact pair includes a respective extinguishing device configured to extinguish an arc forming between the first and the second contacts, and
• wherein the extinguishing devices of both current paths are arranged in a direction from the respective first connections to the respective second connections behind one another and at least partly covering each other.