Abstract: A series electric motor having at least one field winding on its stator and a rotor fed through a commutator and brushes, and a device for short circuiting the rotor. Between the stator and the rotor there is at least one permanent braking magnet attached to the stator. When the short circuiting device is put into operation, the permanent magnet field to drive the braking current is strictly predetermined so that a braking effect may cause no additional or harmful sparking at the brushes. The entire braking energy is then directly converted in the motor rotor and there is no necessity for an additional electronic regulating device for the braking current.