Abstract: A hydraulic shock damper comprises a hydraulic cylinder and a piston having apertures and dividing the cylinder in upper and lower chambers. Through a flow channel the upper chamber of the cylinder is connected to a dashpot accomodating a partition element. The space being enclosed between the partition element and the closed end of the dashpot is filled with a pressurized fluid. Spaced around the said cylinder a second cylinder is provided, an open connection between the lower chamber of the first mentioned cylinder and the space between both cylinders being provided. Two branch lines are connected to the flow channel and emerge into a single line which in turn emerges into said space. In each branch line an externally controllable closure means and a non-return valve are arranged. Both non-return valves open in opposing fluid flow directions.