Combined high voltage discharging and grounding device (7) with a discharging unit (21) with a first electric contact (8) and a first counter-contact (10) as well as a grounding unit (22) with a second electric contact (9) and a second counter contact (11). The first electric contact (8) and the second electric (9) contact are provided on a movable member (12) which is movable by way of a drive (16) along a path of movement (17) from an open position to a close position. An electric contact between the first electric contact (8) and the first counter-contact (10) is established in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position of the movable member (12) when closing the discharging and grounding device (7) in an operating state of the discharging and grounding device while the second electric contact (9) is electrically still disconnected from the second counter contact (11).
