A high frequency plasma ignition device for the ignition of a fuel/air mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a series resonant circuit of an electric inductor and an electric capacitor connected in series, and a high frequency generator with a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal for the resonant excitation of the series resonant circuit, a first electrical contact point being provided in which one end of the capacitor and one end of the inductor are connected to one another electrically. An electrical connecting device connects the high-frequency generator to the inductor and to the capacitor such that an output signal of the high-frequency generator is applied to the series resonant circuit. An electric voltage is applied across the capacitor for igniting a plasma between free ends of a first and second electrode. An electric voltage is further applied to maintain the plasma after ignition.