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Memelland)
Klaipėda Region (Memel Region, Memelland) is the name of the coastland of Lithuania around Klaipėda (formerly known as Memel) and the Curonian Lagoon, on the right bank of river Nemunas.
From 1328 to 1525 it was a part of the Teutonic State, 1525-1701 the Polish province of Ducal Prussia, and then East Prussia. From 1871 to 1920 it belonged to Germany. As a separate unit it was formed in 1920, when it was separated from Germany as the territory, populated prevalently by Lithuanians, and the name Klaipėda Region was used for first time. From 1920 to 1923, it was governed by France. In 1923, after some military incidents, inspired by Lithuanian authorities, Klaipėda Region was ceded to Lithuania as integral autonomous unite of this state. During WWII it was occupied by the Wehrmacht and formally annexed by the Third Reich. After WWII it became a part of Lithuanian SSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union it is part of Lithuania.
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