diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7fee347b..2541f23f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -476,6 +476,8 @@ gitWithCreds 'https://your.repo' // Implicitly passed credentials
 
 ### Changes to local repository
 
+* `git.checkout('branchname')`
+* `git.checkoutOrCreate('branchname')` - Creates new Branch if it does not exist; otherwise, it is reset
 * `git.add('.')`
 * `git.commit('message', 'Author', 'Author@mail.server)`
 * `git.commit('message')` - uses the name and email of the last committer as author and committer.
diff --git a/src/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/Git.groovy b/src/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/Git.groovy
index b6614eeb..a45cc747 100644
--- a/src/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/Git.groovy
+++ b/src/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/Git.groovy
@@ -200,6 +200,17 @@ class Git implements Serializable {
         script.sh "git checkout ${branchName}"
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Switch branch of the local repository. Creates new Branch if it does not exist; otherwise, it is reset
+     * Note: In a multibranch pipeline Jenkins will only fetch the changed branch,
+     * so you have to call {@link #fetch()} before checkout.
+     *
+     * @param branchName name of branch to switch to
+     */
+    void checkoutOrCreate(String branchName) {
+        script.sh "git checkout -B ${branchName}"
+    }
+
     /**
      * Merge branch into the current checked out branch.
      *
diff --git a/test/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/GitTest.groovy b/test/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/GitTest.groovy
index dfd9e017..b6f463da 100644
--- a/test/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/GitTest.groovy
+++ b/test/com/cloudogu/ces/cesbuildlib/GitTest.groovy
@@ -220,6 +220,15 @@ class GitTest {
         assert scriptMock.actualShStringArgs[0] == "git checkout master"
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void switchBranch() {
+        ScriptMock scriptMock = new ScriptMock()
+        Git git = new Git(scriptMock)
+        git.checkoutOrCreate("master")
+
+        assert scriptMock.actualShStringArgs[0] == "git checkout -B master"
+    }
+
     @Test
     void merge() {
         ScriptMock scriptMock = new ScriptMock()