A fuel cell device (1) having a fuel cell (2) with a housing (7) and, accommodated therein, a membrane-electrode assembly (6) with a cathode and an anode, having a cathode gas path (3) that serves to transport a cathode gas and that extends through the membrane-electrode assembly (6) on the cathode side, and having a flushing gas path (5) that serves to transport a flushing gas to flush the housing (7) during operation and that extends through the housing (7) is provided. It is provided that a section of the flushing gas path (5) runs through the cathode gas path (3). In this manner, the fuel cell device (1) has a compact structure of just a few parts.