A spacer system for a semiconductor switching device which is formed as a spacer ring and a plurality of insulating elements and supporting elements are arranged in an alternating manner around a circumference of the spacer ring. The insulating element includes a recess receiving a cathode gate connector element. The supporting element includes a projection receiving a spring system for clamping while assembling the switching device. The switching device includes a substrate, a cathode pole piece, an anode pole piece, strain buffer plates and a gate ring. Further connector elements, are electrically connecting the cathode pole piece and the gate ring of the semiconductor switching device to an external circuit unit. The space between the connector elements is minimized in order to reduce the gate circuit impedance, thus enabling an increased maximum turn-off current and further allowing for the use of larger semiconductor switching devices for high power applications.