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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">AHUK</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis</journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1392-4095</issn>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">1392-4095</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>KU</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">21_115-124_BUTKUS</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>SSRS požiūris į Klaipėdos atplėšimą nuo Lietuvos 1939 metais | The USSR Position on Klaipėda’s withdrawal from Lithuania in 1939</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="Author">
          <name>
            <surname>Butkus</surname>
            <given-names>Zenonas</given-names>
          </name>
          <email xlink:href="mailto:zenonas.butkus@if.vu.lt">zenonas.butkus@if.vu.lt</email>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="j_AHUK_aff_000"/>
          <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1">∗</xref>
        </contrib>
        <aff id="j_AHUK_aff_000">Vilnius University</aff>
      </contrib-group>
      <author-notes>
        <corresp id="cor1"><label>∗</label>Corresponding author.</corresp>
      </author-notes>
      <volume>21</volume>
      <fpage>115</fpage>
      <lpage>124</lpage>
      <pub-date pub-type="ppub">
        <day>17</day>
        <month>12</month>
        <year>2010</year>
      </pub-date>
      <pub-date pub-type="epub">
        <day>17</day>
        <month>12</month>
        <year>2010</year>
      </pub-date>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-year>2010</copyright-year>
        <copyright-holder>Klaipėda University</copyright-holder>
        <ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/"/>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <p>The article argues that the Soviet Union, like other powerful states, supported Lithuania’s decision to give up the idea of fighting for Klaipėda Region and obeying Nazi Germany’s demand for its occupation. Such a position was not openly and vividly demonstrated by Moscow politicians for the purpose of sustaining a two-decade-lasting image of being Lithuania’s protectors and supporters in the international arena. During the interwar period, the Soviets acknowledged Germany’s rising interest in Klaipėda, and since 1938, they were sure that Lithuania would have never managed to safeguard Klaipėda’s territory. Despite the fact that the Soviets did not intervene in the Nazi expansion, they indirectly responded by spreading their influence on the Baltic region. That was done by demanding territorial extensions from Finland and thus limiting the political sovereignty of Lithuania and Estonia. Hence, in the spring of 1939, more clearly pronounced zones of influence were drawn onto the Baltic States by Germany and the USSR.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <label>Keywords</label>
        <kwd>Klaipėda</kwd>
        <kwd>Baltic States</kwd>
        <kwd>tear-away of Klaipėda in 1939</kwd>
        <kwd>the relationship of Lithuania and the USSR</kwd>
        <kwd>the relationship of Germany, Lithuania and the USSR</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
</article>
