A switching apparatus for conducting and interrupting electrical currents includes: a first mechanical contact arrangement; a semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the first mechanical contact arrangement; a second mechanical contact arrangement connected in series to the first mechanical contact arrangement; an auxiliary coil electrically isolated from a circuit of a switching drive used to move contacts of the first and second mechanical contact arrangements, and which is electromagnetically coupled to a coil of the switching drive such that a voltage is generated therein when a voltage supply of the switching drive is switched off; and a switching electronics for switching the semiconductor switch on and off, and which is supplied with the voltage generated in the auxiliary coil when the voltage supply of the switching drive is switched off. The switching electronics switches the semiconductor switch on and off multiple times according to a prespecified sequence.