A sterilization device has a rod-like body which is capable of being introduced through an aperture into an interior space of containers and which acts upon an inner wall of the containers with radiation. A lifting cam produces a movement in a longitudinal direction, of the containers between the containers and the sterilization device in such a way that the containers are capable of being guided over the rod-like body. A movement device is provided which is capable of producing a relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the containers between the rod-like body and the lifting cam and of altering a relative distance between the lifting cam and the rod-like body.