Contact assembly for a relay and relay with contact assembly

Contact assembly for a relay for switching high load currents, having at least one switching arm and at least one switch contact, at least one electrically conductive connection element equipped with a contact portion coupled to the switching arm and directly electrically conductively connected to the switch contact and having a flexible, conductive braid, which is electrically conductively connected to a connection strap of the connection element facing away from the contact portion, wherein the connection strap is inclined relative to the contact portion and the switching arm, wherein the contact assembly contains an armature pivotally mounted about a switching axis and an armature spring forming an angle, configured with a bearing arm and the switching arm, which switching arm is disposed between the armature and the contact portion and runs parallel with the armature, wherein the armature, bearing against an internal side of the switching arm, the switching arm and the contact portion are connected together, wherein the connection strap, inclined away from the armature, runs essentially in the direction of the switching axis.