ENThe concepts of border and border crossing are broadly treated by various fields of learning. We have a number of different types of boundaries. The article takes into account the importance of geographical boundaries - including national ones, as well as internal - personal boundaries. Using the example of memoirs, the individual stages of striving to cross the German-Soviet and Soviet-Lithuanian border during the journey from Warsaw to Vilnius in the fall of 1939 after the outbreak of World War II were shown, as well as the moment of crossing it. Keywords: outbreak of World War II; German-Soviet border in 1939; Soviet-Lithuanian border in 1939; Jewish refugees; mapping escape routes; crossing administrative borders; crossing personal boundaries.