Abstract: Disclosed are an inductive voltage transformer having a primary winding connected to a network line and a protective circuit therefor. In order to prevent a large thermal and mechanical stress in such a transformer, the protective circuit comprises a control unit which controls a switching device for connecting a circuit arrangement to a secondary winding of the voltage transformer. The circuit arrangement includes a current generating circuit with a charging capacitor. The protective circuit operates to generate a current causing a counter excitation in the transformer to that caused when the capacitance of the network line is discharged via the primary winding of the transformer. The voltage transformer and the protective circuit are suited particularly for connection to network lines having a large internal capacitance.