Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis

The paper aims to review one uninvestigated episode on the territory known as Klaipėda Region (Memelgebiet) in March 1939, before the Second World War. On 22-23 March 1939, Lithuania was coerced into yielding to Hitler‘s ultimatum for Klaipėda (Memel) to be ceded to Germany which caused a mass surge of refugees from Klaipėda to Lithuania Major. Many Lithuanian workers, employees, and businessmen in the region were scared by the aggressive Nazi Anschluss and fled from the region in panic, mostly to Lithuania. Another segment of the population was subsequently also expelled from the annexed region to Lithuania Major. The Lithuanian Government and its officials were not prepared for the large influx of refugees. To provide additional support, the Lithuanian Red Cross and many social and voluntary organisations became engaged in the refugee accommodation, catering, protection, and dealing with other problems.