An integrated vertical SiC—PN power diode has a highly doped SiC semiconductor body of a first conductivity type, a low-doped drift zone of the first conductivity type, arranged above the semiconductor body on the emitter side, an emitter zone of a second conductivity type, applied to the drift zone, and at least one thin intermediate layer of the first conductivity type. The intermediate layer is arranged inside the drift zone, has a higher doping concentration than the drift zone, and divides the drift zone into at least one first anode-side drift zone layer and at least one second cathode-side drift zone layer. There is also disclosed a circuit configuration with such SiC—PN power diodes.