Abstract: An erase device for a magnetic layer memory having relative motion of a storage medium with respect to a combined magnetic head system includes a magnetic erase head having a single coil winding. Both ends of the winding of the erase head can be connected to a DC supply voltage via a respective inductor and, via a respective switch, to a potential that deviates from the DC voltage. The switches are alternately activated for identical time intervals by complementary control pulse sequences. The drive circuit for the erase head forms a DC-AC converter having symmetrical drive of the erase head.