Abstract: A protection switch with sudden switching on and off, a trip-free release and forced opening is described. A manually movable actuator (10) forms with a U-clip (50) a toggle lever. One leg (51) of the U-clip (50) forming the toggle joint axis is displaceably guided in the actuator (10) in a link (15) with a variable spacing from its rotation axis (11) and against the action of a spring (14) supported on the actuator (10). The other leg (52) of the U-clip (50) is guided in a fixed link (25) and in a ratchet lever (40). The ratchet lever (40) serves to transfer movement to a contact arrangement (21, 22) and cooperates with the release ratchet (60) of an overcurrent and/or undervoltage monitoring device. The fixed link (25) controls the engaging movement of the ratchet lever (40).