Abstract: An electrohydraulic drawing or hoisting apparatus for the pulling or lifting and lowering of loads, in which a load lifting member, hydraulic fluid tank, electric motor, pump, and control unit are all mounted within a single compact unit which is rigidly connected to one end of a cylinder piston unit. A control handle is connected to the hydraulic control unit so that the directions of displacement of the handle and the resulting motion of the load lifting member coincide substantially. The speed of the piston in both directions is continuously variable as a function of the displacement of the control handle. The piston's speed in at least one direction of motion, moreover, is controlled by influencing the pump delivery through displacement of the control handle.