Kartograficzne aspekty niemiecko-sowieckiego traktatu o granicach i przyjaźni z 28 września 1939 roku

ENThough about the German-Soviet agreements of 1939 have been written by many historians, but their cartographic aspects are problematic in research. Important sources have not survived or are not easy available to researchers. However, the Political Archives of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin retains the original map, which in September 28, 1939 Stalin and Ribbentrop signed with the split line of former Poland's territory, occupied and divided by Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. A facsimile of this color map was published by the author od this article for scientific purposes in Vilnius (2015). Territorial agreements were reflected in this and other cartographic sources. Their analysis provides an opportunity to take a fresh look at the treaties between Germany and Soviet Union in 1939, their genesis and consequences. Special attention in this article is paid to the problem of the Klaipėda (Memel) Region. It is concluded that the German annexation of Klaipeda Region in March 1939, was one of the catalysts who moved to Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Jts consequence was the German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty, signed on 28 September 1939 in Moscow.