In the late spring of 1945 the Soviet armies reached the Oder
river and readied for the assault on Berlin.  An ideal
location to stage the final offensive was Kuestrin.  The
Berlin-Seelow highway provides and excellent corridor of
advance at Kuestrin. Guarding the route to Berlin was a
makeshift Panzer division composed of infantry and a single
tank battalion.  The battalion, however, was overstrength
combining several Panther companies and one Tiger company.

At 0600 hours on March 22nd, the Soviets attacked.  The German
infantry halted the Soviet infantry and assault guns but could
do nothing to stop the tanks.  The IS-II's and  T-34/85's
continued westward sans infantry support. Ahead, the Germans
waited in ambush. As the Panthers engaged head on, the
Tigers attacked the Soviet right flank. By the end of the day
over 60 Soviet tanks were burning. The panzers had won their
last victory.
