Disclosed is a multipole high-voltage circuit breaker of the type comprising a housing into which two stationary contacts per pole extend and a rotatable current bridge which connects and disconnects the stationary contacts upon rotation thereof. Both the stationary contacts and the contacts on the movable bridge are provided with preliminary switching points or contacts and main contact points or contacts. The preliminary contact points make contact before the main contact points and break contact after the main contact points. The arrangement permits arcing at the preliminary contact points only and thereby increases the life of the main contact points.