A protection device of this type includes a flexible sheetlike structure which is mounted movably between a compactly stored inoperative position and at least one at least partially extended functional position and is provided at the end thereof which is in front in the extension direction with a planar and dimensionally stable contour part which extends substantially over an entire width of the sheetlike structure.Control kinematics are assigned to a movement end region of the contour part shortly before the extended end position is reached, the control kinematics shifting the contour part forwards in the extension direction by an additional extension distance.