A tacking device for surgery, preferably dental surgery, is disclosed for affixing membranes, which are impermeable to tissue cells, with tacking nails to bone. The tacking device has a plunger with an endwise holding device into which a tacking nail, having a head, is able to be inserted. The plunger is movable, directly or by a mechanical transfer element, in the direction of the holding device by a spring force. An untensioning of the spring is blocked by a release device in a releasable manner.