To provide for fast switching at high powers while relieving stress on a mechanical switch, an electric switching device comprising a mechanical electric switch and an irradiation source and at least one switching element sensitive to irradiation is adapted to create an electrically well conducting current path by-passing the mechanical switch upon irradiation of the switching element by the irradiation source. The switching element assumes an electrically insulating state in the absence of irradiation thereof. The switching element includes rectifiers adapted to be reverse biased when not irradiated and conducting as a consequence of generation of free charge carriers therein through irradiation by the irradiation source.