A high voltage battery has at least two battery modules that each have a module housing and an electrical connection element to electrically connect the battery modules. A battery module has a prestressing element which is arranged within the respective module housing and is connected to the respective electrical connection element. The electrical connection element connected to the prestressing element is arranged on the battery module such that it is movable between a connection position, in which the electrical connection element is guided through a through-hole in the module housing, and a protective position, in which the electrical connection element is arranged completely within the module housing. The prestressing element prestresses the electrical connection element in a direction of the protective position. The connection element in the connection position is connected to another battery module via at least one connecting unit. The connecting unit is configured such that the connection produced by the connecting unit can be released in a destruction-free manner or with destruction of the connecting unit by a movement of the mutually electrically connected battery modules relative to one another in a movement direction which extends transversely to a prestressing direction in which the connection element is prestressed by the prestressing element.