Abstract: A bone compression plate is provided with several sliding slits for countersunk bone screws having ball heads in the longitudinal dimension of the plate. Each sliding slit is countersunk in its end area opposite the fracture, the depth of which countersinking in the plate determines the final axial position of the screwhead. That depth is greater than that of the rest of the sliding slit. The bearing surface of the countersinking for the screwhead extends over an area which is included within an angle of more than 180.degree.. It is thus possible, on the one hand, to move the plate with respect to the pieces of fractured bone to obtain a pressing together of the two pieces of bone when the bone screw has not been screwed tight. On the other hand, it is possible to fasten the plate immovably to one piece of the fractured bone by inserting a bone screw into the countersink slit.