In a steering column which is telescopic in the event of a crash, an outer column tube  is connected to a stem  by means of a shearing body  This two-piece shearing body has a shearing area which is reduced relative to its external dimensions and is determined by a projection connecting its two sections . The shearing body can therefore absorb relatively large axial forces, for example for assembly purposes, and yet permits maximum admissible shearing forces which can be set largely as desired and which at the same time can be reproduced with high accuracy