An occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, with a gas generator and an airbag which is connected to the gas generator and is inflated by the gas generator in the event of an accident. The gas generator includes a combustion chamber with propellant material which is ignited by a releasable igniting charge, and both the gas formed during combustion of the igniting charge and the gas formed during combustion of the propellant material being used for filling the airbag.