The invention relates to a device (21) for working an electrical cable (1) which has a sheath (6) and a cable film (5) situated beneath said sheath, comprising an assembly (32) of modules (33, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4), which are independent of one another, for removing a piece (6′) of sheath and a piece (5′) of cable film from the cable (1). According to the invention, provision is made for the assembly (32) to have a first module (MD1) for cutting off the piece (6′) of sheath from the cable (1), a second module (MD2), which follows the first module (MD1), for reducing the mechanical loadability of the cable (5) in an intended crack position (RP), and a third module (MD3), which follows the second module (MD2) and has the purpose of removing the piece (6′) of sheath and the piece (5′) of cable film from the cable (1) in an automated manner.