To drive a crankshaft placed between center punch peaks without deformation which may deteriorate the accuracy of the crankshaft.

In the apparatus (1) to rotate the crankshaft (2) which is placed between the center punch peaks (5, 6) of a cutting tool having a face blade (7), with both end parts thereof in the axial direction abutting on the center punch peaks, the crankshaft is driven by a drive element (8), which is connected or connectable to the face blade and extends over a part (11) of the length of the crankshaft (2) in parallel to a rotary shaft (9) of the crankshaft (2) while maintaining a lateral distance (10) from the rotary shaft, and has a driving body (13) at a free end part (12), which acts on a stroke pin (14) of the crankshaft (2).