The invention relates to a rigid, rod-shaped endoscope having an outer casing tube (1, 2, 3), an inner fixed optical tube (15), and at least one movable sliding tube (12) arranged therebetween, for medical applications, comprising a distal end having a transparent, distal window (4) and a light outlet lying adjacent thereto, an optical deflecting prism (6) facing the distal window (4), a proximal end having an optical observation device (22) or a camera adapter, an endoscope shank constructed from hollow tubes lying one inside the other, wherein the two outer hollow tubes (1, 3) form the casing tube having a window (4) at the distal end, the optical tube (15) has the movable deflecting prism (6) at the distal window and an optical system (14) inside the optical tube for transmitting light beams, at least one sliding tube (12) that can be slid in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the endoscope is arranged between the casing tube (1, 2, 3) and the optical tube (15), a device (13) is provided at the distal window (4), by means of which device the scattered light incidence on the sides of the deflecting prism (6) facing the distal window (4) can be prevented, the deflection prism (6) facing the distal window (4) is rotatably supported on a shaft (8) that lies at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope, the sliding tube (12) is connected at the distal end to the deflecting prism (6) such that sliding said tube against the optical tube (15) causes the prism to rotate about the shaft (8) thereof, the casing tube (1, 2, 3) forms a leak-tight and hermetically sealed interior, which also completely encloses the inner hollow tubes located therein and the leak-tightness of which allows the space surrounding the interior to be sterilized by means of vapor, the sliding of the sliding tube against the optical tube occurs as a result of magnetic forces, which are generated by slidable permanent magnets (20, 21), wherein at least one permanent magnet is arran
