The invention relates to a steering actuation device for a vehicle, in particular for an industrial truck, having an operating element for inputting steering commands by exerting torques on the operating element, having a sensor arrangement for monitoring the steering command input state of the operating element and having a control device for converting the steering command input data detected by the sensor arrangement into control information for a steering drive apparatus of a wheel, which can be steered, of the vehicle, the sensor arrangement detecting the respective steering command input state of the operating element by means of monitoring the elastic material deformation, in particular torsion, of an element, which is subjected to elastic deformation by means of a steering command input torque on the operating element and is coupled to or associated with the operating element.