[citation needed] They are also known by the names of "Border Regions" and "Liberated Areas" in English.
[1] In Germany, within the framework of the European Union Customs Union, the border area (German: grenznahe Raum) extends on the German part of the customs border of the Community to a depth of 30 kilometers, from the seaward border of the customs territory of the Community to a depth of 50 kilometers.
In the Soviet Union, the regime of the use of land, water, forests, entrails, other arable lands, navigation, fishing, rafting and other works is defined by the border area regime.
The entire strip (including rivers, lakes and islands) is under the exclusive control of the USSR Armed Forces.
[4] During the Interbellum and post-World War II periods, the border areas were subject to severe ethnic cleansing of nationals of "potentially hostile" ethnicities;[5] see Population transfer in the Soviet Union and Forced settlements in the Soviet Union#Deportations from border territories in 1939–1941 for details.