Abstract: The present invention relates to a ventilation device (10) for mechanical ventilation 1200 of patients, comprising an operating device for setting at least one ventilation parameter (110, 112, 114, 116; 112, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 122, 130), having a manipulation element (22) that can be manually operated by an operator to manually set the at least one ventilation parameter (110, 112, 114, 116; 112, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 122, 130), and a control unit (100) that is designed to automatically determine a target value for the at least one ventilation parameter (110, 112, 114, 116; 112, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 122, 130) on the basis of detected values of characteristic variables; the operating device has a first haptic feedback unit associated therewith which is designed to control the manipulation element (22) in terms of a first haptic feedback such that a position of the manipulation element (22) corresponding to the target value of the at least one ventilation parameter (110, 112, 114, 116; 112, 110, 112