The invention relates to a cranking device for internal combustion engines, having a starter motor whose starter pinion initially shifts into the gear ring of the engine with a starting signal via an engagement magnet, before the starter motor trips the cranking process with full force. The shifting of the starter pinion and the switching of the starter motor are improved by providing that the starter motor (SM) with the starting signal (st) drives the starter pinion initially via a protective resistor (Rvor) with reduced torque, and the engagement magnet (EM) shifts it into the gear ring of the engine, and that after that, the engagement magnet (EM) presses the starter pinion all the way into the gear ring of the engine, and the starter motor (SM) turns the engine over with full torque by bypassing the protective resistor (Rvor).