Abstract: An overvoltage protection element is disclosed that includes a housing, connections for electrically connecting the overvoltage protection element to a current path or a signal path to be protected The overvoltage protection element further includes two varistors arranged inside the housing and electrically connected in parallel, and a center electrode arranged at least partially between the varistors. The housing has two housing halves made of metal and electrically connected to each other, wherein the center electrode is isolated from the housing halves and is electrically connected at the opposite sides of the electrode to a first connection area of a varistor and wherein the two varistors and the center electrode are sandwiched between the two housing halves. The overvoltage protection element includes an arrester between one terminal of the overvoltage protection element and the parallel connection of the two varistors.