AQA GCSE HISTORY: CONFLICT AND TENSION: THE INTER-WAR YEARS, 1918-1939 | ANSWERS

1 The armistice

1 Source A is critical of the leading countries involved in the peace talks. How do you know? Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. (4)

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An example of a Level 1 answer

I know the cartoon is critical of the leading countries involved in the peace talks because it shows key leaders carrying their ‘national sentiment’ to the peace ‘soup’ or talks. The people of France and Britain especially wanted to punish Germany for the war.

An example of a Level 2 answer

The carton is critical of the leading countries involved in the peace talks because it shows key European leaders selfishly carrying their ‘national sentiments’ with them to the peace ‘soup’ that represents the talks. The cartoon implies the leaders of these countries were bringing their own grudges and selfish aims to the talks (such as France wanting to punish Germany for the war, or Britain wanting to take over Germany’s colonies), unlike Woodrow Wilson trying to bring countries together with his ‘sweet oil of brotherhood’.

2 Write an account of how the aims of the Big Three led to tension at the Paris Peace Conference. (8)

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An example of a Level 1 answer

The Big Three refers to the leaders of Britain, France, and the USA. Because they had different aims for the Paris Peace Conference, their aims led to tension. Britain and France wanted to punish Germany, but the USA wanted to be kinder to Germany and help it rebuild.

An example of a Level 2 answer

The Big Three leaders of Britain, France, and the USA had different aims for the Paris Peace Conference, and so their aims led to tension. The British people wanted to punish Germany because almost 3 million citizens from the British Empire were killed or wounded in the war, and Lloyd George also saw the benefit of keeping Germany strong. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens and Clemenceau was determined to hold Germany to the terms of the Armistice and punish Germany so that France would be safe. The USA, however, wanted to be kinder to Germany and help rebuild it. President Wilson based his aims on his Fourteen Points of January 1918.

An example of a Level 3 answer

The Big Three leaders of Britain, France, and the USA had different aims for the Paris Peace Conference based on their differing experiences of the First World War. As a consequence, their differing aims led to tension at the conference as they decided on Germany’s punishment.

Almost 3 million citizens from the British Empire were killed or wounded in the war, and as a consequence, Lloyd George promised his people he would ‘make Germany pay’. However, he also saw the benefit of keeping Germany strong to maintain a balance in Europe. France had also suffered badly in the war, losing almost 1.4 million citizens and plenty of buildings. French people wanted revenge, and Clemenceau wanted to keep France safe from future German attacks. Therefore, France’s main priority was to punish and weaken Germany; Clemenceau wanted to take a harsher approach than Britain, and this caused tensions at the conference.

Compared to Britain and France, the USA wanted to be kinder to Germany and help it rebuild. President Wilson based his aims on his Fourteen Points of January 1918, but these points clashed with the promises the Allies had made during the war and caused further tension.

An example of a Level 4 answer

The Big Three leaders of Britain, France, and the USA had different aims for the Paris Peace Conference based on their differing experiences of the First World War. As a consequence, their differing aims led to tension at the conference as they decided on Germany’s punishment.

France lost almost 1.4 million citizens in the war, and the country’s infrastructure was devastated by the fighting. French people wanted revenge and Clemenceau wanted to keep France safe from future German attacks. Therefore, France’s main priority at the conference was to punish and weaken Germany, for example by reducing the size of its army and forcing it to pay reparations.

Wilson, however, had very different priorities, and this caused tension. Americans were less impacted than the French by the war and so were less concerned with taking revenge. Wilson and Clemenceau both wanted to avoid future conflict, but they disagreed about how to prevent it: Wilson thought that imposing harsh terms on Germany would actually cause conflict and the better approach was to help Germany rebuild. This was very different to Clemenceau’s belief that punishing Germany would ensure peace, so it caused tension.

Britain’s approach was somewhere in the middle – punishing Germany without destroying the country because Lloyd George wanted to make Germany pay for the war while also keeping it as a strong trading partner. Lloyd George also wanted to keep the British Empire and navy strong, but this clashed with Wilson’s aims to introduce self-determination and freedom of the seas. In this case, Lloyd George’s aim to protect Britain’s power caused tension with Wilson, who was more interested in a fair peace for everyone.

3 ‘The desire of many French people for revenge was the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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An example of a Level 1 answer

The French desire for revenge was the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens and had been devastated by the fighting. As a result, Clemenceau was determined to punish Germany so France would be safe.

An example of a Level 2 answer

The French desire for revenge was the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens in the First World War and had been devastated by the fighting. The French people wanted revenge, and this influenced Clemenceau’s approach to the talks. However, the USA were less keen on punishing Germany so harshly, and this created tension between the Big Three. For example, the USA wanted to help Germany rebuild and wanted to focus on peace, not revenge.

An example of a Level 3 answer

The French desire for revenge was the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens in the First World War and the country’s infrastructure had been devastated, particularly in the north-east. Many French people blamed Germany for the war and wanted revenge, and this influenced Clemenceau’s approach to the talks. He was focused on punishing and weakening Germany, for example by demanding reparations, and this unyielding approach caused tension.

However, the aims of France’s allies also caused tension. Britain also wanted to punish Germany for its losses – including almost a million dead. But Britain’s leader, Lloyd George, also wanted to keep Germany as a strong trading partner and a balance with the other European powers. So, he did not want to be as harsh on Germany as Clemenceau did. The USA had been less impacted by the war and just wanted to secure a lasting peace. President Wilson did not want to be harsh on Germany.

An example of a Level 4 answer

The French desire for revenge was the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens in the fighting of the First World War, and the country’s infrastructure had been devastated, particularly in the north-east. Many French people blamed Germany for the war and wanted revenge, which influenced Clemenceau’s approach to the talks. He was focused on punishing and weakening Germany, for example by demanding that Germany reduced its army and paid reparations, and this unyielding approach caused tension.

Britain’s aims also caused tension, however. Britain also wanted to punish Germany for its losses – including almost a million dead. Britain’s leader, Lloyd George, was keen to secure Germany’s colonies to help British finances recover from the cost of the war: Britain had debts of almost £1 billion. But Lloyd George also wanted to keep Germany as a strong trading partner and a balance with the other European powers. So, he did not want to be as hard on Germany as Clemenceau did, which caused tension between these two leaders.

President Wilson’s Fourteen Points also caused tension. The USA had been less impacted by the war and just wanted to secure a lasting peace. President Wilson did not want to be harsh on Germany. The USA’s aims were based on the Fourteen Points of January 1918, and some of the aims clashed with those of Wilson’s allies. The idea of self-determination threatened Britain’s empire and the promises of land made to Italy to get them to join the Allies during the war. The idea of ‘the freedom of the seas’ further challenged British interests and their desire to ‘rule the waves’. These aims caused further tensions.

My overall judgement is that the French desire for revenge was the main reason for tension because Clemenceau was driven solely by revenge and fear and was unwilling to compromise. France had been devastated by the war and wanted to make sure Germany could not invade again, so insisted on sticking to the terms of the Armistice that ended the fighting in order to secure its safety – as Germany’s immediate neighbour.

2 The Versailles settlement

1 How useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying the Treaty of Versailles? Explain your answer using Sources A and B and your contextual knowledge. (12)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The first source contrasts two images: peace negotiations between Germany and France in 1871 and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
• The source shows a stark contrast between the gloom of the French defeat in 1871, the crowd of Germans around the negotiating table, and the glorious triumph of ‘French justice’ in 1919.
• Dated 13 July 1919, this French journal was published shortly after the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The second source reflects on the aims and realities of the Paris Peace Conference and the treaties that came out of it.
• The second source suggests that the participants themselves thought the Treaty of Versailles was flawed. The source suggests those involved will look ‘stupid’ and that the Treaty was not ‘wise’ or ‘just’.
• The source is a diary extract from one of the conference attendees, so it is an eye-witness account of the feelings of one involved in the negotiations at the time.
• Source A gives a glimpse of French popular opinion in reaction to the Treaty. In contrast, Source B is valuable in showing the contemporary concerns of one Briton involved in the negotiations.

2 Write an account of how the Paris Peace Conference led to changes in the structure of Europe. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The Paris Peace Conference, held in 1919, produced the Treaty of Versailles and treaties with Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey.
• The conference aimed to punish Germany and countries that had fought alongside Germany against the Allies. For example, Austria lost land to Italy and Romania, Turkey lost land to Greece and other countries, and Germany lost land to France, Poland, and other countries.
• When the war ended, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires ended. The treaties produced by the conference took land from these empires and from the defeated powers to create three ‘new’ countries: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland.

3 ‘The Fourteen Points were the main reason for tension at the Paris Peace Conference.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The USA’s aims were based on the Fourteen Points of January 1918, and some of them clashed with those of Wilson’s allies. The idea of self-determination threatened Britain’s empire and the promises of land made to Italy. The idea of the freedom of the seas challenged British interests and their desire to ‘rule the waves’. These competing aims caused tensions.
• The French desire for revenge was another reason for tension. France had lost almost 1.4 million citizens in the First World War and had been devastated by the fighting. Clemenceau was determined to punish Germany and keep France safe.
• Britain’s aims were another reason for tension. Britain wanted to punish Germany for its losses. Lloyd George was keen to secure Germany’s colonies to help British finances recover from the cost of the war. But Lloyd George also wanted to keep Germany as a strong trading partner and a balance with the other powers.
• The main reason for tension was that the Allies had differing aims based on their different experiences of the First World War: Wilson’s Fourteen Points were an expression of the USA’s aims.

3 The impact of the treaty and wider settlement

1 Source A is critical of the USA. How do you know? Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. (4)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The source shows a USA senator cowering from the dove of peace and the idea of the League of Nations.
• The senator reacts with fear to the idea of the League, calling the dove a ‘horrible vulture’. The title ‘Seein’ Things’ suggests the senator’s fears are not real.
• An American political cartoon, the source uses satire to poke fun at the US senators who refused to join the League of Nations.

2 Write an account of how the settlement agreed at the Paris Peace Conference led to increased tensions in Europe. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The settlement included the Treaty of Versailles and the five treaties signed with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
• The Treaty of Versailles was very hard on Germany and led to resentment and anger. The loss of land left around 6 million Germans outside of Germany, the reparation payments devastated Germany’s economy, and Germans felt vulnerable with the restrictions to their armed forces. The harshness of the Treaty increased tensions between Germany and other European countries.
• The break-up of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires created several new countries, which were often small and weak with mixed populations. The countries that lost land to these countries wanted their land (and people) back.

3 ‘The wider settlement was less harsh than the Treaty of Versailles.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The Treaty of Versailles demanded Germany pay reparations of £6.6 billion. Germany’s economy was in ruins after the war, and a missed reparation payment led France to invade the Ruhr. Much smaller reparations were demanded from all countries in the broader settlements. Only Bulgaria repaid them; other countries were not punished for not paying.
• Due to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany lost 13% of its land to Poland, France, and other countries. It also lost all its overseas colonies. All countries in the wider settlements also lost land, though Bulgaria also gained land from Turkey, and Turkey regained some land from Greece.
• The German army and navy were severely restricted, and the air force and conscription were banned. All countries in the wider settlements also had their armed forces restricted to fewer troops than Germany, though these restrictions were lifted from Turkey in the Treaty of Lausanne.
• The wider settlements were certainly less harsh than the Treaty of Versailles in terms of reparations and in how the Allies dealt with reactions to the treaties. For example, protests in Turkey over the Treaty of Sèvres led the Allies to agree to a more lenient treaty with Turkey. However, the Allies did not take this lenient approach when Germany failed to make its reparation payments.

4 The League of Nations

1 How useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying the role of the League of Nations in the 1920s? Explain your answer using Sources A and B and your contextual knowledge. (12)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The first source comments on the League’s involvement in a dispute between Bulgaria and Greece, showing the dove of peace separating the two battling countries.
• The source criticises the League’s ‘purely moral’ force, highlighting that it could not enforce its will on member states. Its intervention between Greece and Bulgaria was successful, as Greece gave in to pressure and withdrew its invading forces, but it contrasted greatly with the League’s failed attempt to reign in Mussolini over Corfu.
• The source is a political cartoon published during the Bulgaria–Greece dispute. The cartoon uses satire to poke fun at contemporary events.
• The second source summarises what the formation of the League of Nations represents to those who suffered through the First World War.
• The source lists the various hopes and aims for the League, such as disarmament, justice, and better health.
• Published in 1920, the extract reflects the optimism surrounding the League’s creation, predating major challenges like the Corfu incident and the Great Depression.
• The first source is useful in reflecting popular opinion over one of the key issues of the 1920s. The second source is useful in giving an idea of the ideals and optimism surrounding the League’s formation but is less helpful in looking at how the League functioned.

2 Write an account of how Britain, France, the USA, and Germany reacted to the Treaty of Versailles. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• In Britain, Lloyd George was welcomed home like a hero, with the press declaring the German threat at an end. British people supported the Treaty as they wanted to punish Germany for its role in starting the First World War.
• Clemenceau was voted out at the next election in France as many French people felt the Treaty had not gone far enough.
• In the USA, many felt the Treaty was unfair and aimed simply to make Britain and France benefit at Germany’s expense. The American Senate did not ratify the Treaty, and the USA refused to join the League despite President Wilson being its chief advocate.
• In Germany, many hated the Treaty and felt it was unfair due to the loss of territory, War Guilt clause, and reparation payments. The military restrictions left many Germans feeling vulnerable. The Treaty was seen as a blatant betrayal of Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the very principles upon which the Armistice had been signed.

3 ‘The League of Nations was a success in the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The League of Nations set up many successful agencies that had a positive impact on 1920s Europe. For example, the ILO got 77 countries to agree on a minimum wage, and the Health Committee worked to improve health and education.
• The League of Nations intervened in several 1920s disputes with mixed results. It successfully mediated the Åland Islands dispute and the Upper Silesia conflict (both 1921) and pressured Greece to withdraw from its invasion of Bulgaria.
• The League was not always successful. The League failed to stop Polish aggression over Vilna and failed to support Greece against Italian aggression over Corfu. In both instances, British and French interests trumped the ideals of the League.
• Overall, the League was a success in the 1920s. The agencies made many positive changes, although they also had several failures. The League also resolved three international disputes successfully. However, there were signs of its shortcomings over Corfu and Vilna.

5 The collapse of the League

1 Source A is critical of Britain and France. How do you know? Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. (4)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The source shows figures representing France and Britain waving their fingers in ‘mild disapproval’ of Mussolini, who is holding the Abyssinian dispute.
• The comical wagging of fingers and the figures’ statement of ‘mild disapproval’ poke fun at Britain and France’s reluctance to punish Mussolini for his invasion of Abyssinia. They refused to enact tough sanctions on Italy following Mussolini’s aggressive action.
• The cartoon is contemporary to the invasion of October 1935, following the Stresa Front agreement of April of that year that gave Mussolini confidence to act. It is a British political cartoon poking fun at the actions of Britain and France.

2 Write an account of how the League of Nations eased tensions in Europe in the 1920s. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The League of Nations was established in 1919 and led by Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. It aimed to increase international cooperation and peace. One way it did this was by mediating conflicts.
• The League intervened over Upper Silesia, successfully easing tensions between Germany and Poland. In 1921, a referendum in the region voted to join Germany, but Poland contested the result. The League divided the region proportionately based on the referendum, ensuring the infrastructure served both parts. Both sides accepted this.
• In the Aaland Islands, the League was able to prevent warfare by intervening. Sweden and Finland accepted the League’s decision over the Aaland islands, awarding them to Finland but forbidding them from fortifying the islands.
• The League eased tensions between Greece and Bulgaria by ordering Greek forces to withdraw from their invasion of Bulgaria and to pay compensation.

3 ‘The absence of the USA was the main reason for the failure of the League of Nations.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The absence of the USA undermined the League’s power to impose meaningful sanctions, as aggressor countries could still trade with this powerful country. The USA was Japan’s main trade partner in the 1930s, and its absence meant League sanctions meant little to Japan. Japan and China were far away from Europe, so they were a less pressing concern for the League.
• A bigger problem was Britain and France’s unwillingness to stand by the League Covenant against its allies. They failed to oppose Mussolini over Corfu in 1923, encouraging him to act in 1935.
• The Depression was another factor that led to the League’s failure. Members were reluctant to impose sanctions due to the economic cost to their own populations. Countries were too preoccupied with internal affairs to focus on other countries’ problems. Nobody wanted – or could afford – to go to war, and the League had no army of its own.
• The absence of the USA was a major limiting factor in the Manchurian crisis. However, the League’s failures in the 1920s to stand up to Mussolini encouraged Japan to act – and its failure in 1935 sounded the final death knell of the League. These failures rested primarily on the heads of Britain and France for protecting their ally.

6 The development of tension in Europe

1 How useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying Hitler’s intentions in the 1930s? Explain your answer using Sources A and B and your contextual knowledge. (12)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The first source shows Hitler outlining his aims for Germany: Lebensraum (living space) and preparing to resist ‘Bolshevism’ – Russian communism.
• The source describes Hitler’s desire to expand Germany’s borders into the ‘East’ to provide for its growing population and also his focus on Russia as the great enemy. This can be seen in his desire to rebuild Germany’s military in spite of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The source is Mein Kampf, Hitler’s account of his thoughts and aims written while in prison after the Munich Putsch. It is, therefore, a reliable statement of his intentions.
• The second source shows Hitler claiming sovereignty over all German-speaking people, no matter where they live. A line of ghostly figures represents crises with German speakers from different countries.
• The source refers to ‘crises’ involving German-speaking people, such as the Dollfuss Affair. Austrian Nazis caused chaos in Austria and murdered the chancellor, giving Hitler an excuse to intervene. Hitler aimed to reunite all German-blooded people (the Volksdeutsche) under him who had been separated by the Treaty of Versailles.
• The source is a British political cartoon from 1938. By this time, Hitler had used the ‘crises’ of international Germans to further his expansion – completing Anschluss with Austria and expansion into the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia.
• The first source is useful for revealing the truth of Hitler’s intentions in the 1930s as they come from his own manifesto of action. The second source is useful in showing how British people viewed Hitler’s intentions, showing that at least some British people in the late 1930s viewed Hitler’s aggressive and expansionist aims as ‘nightmarish’.

2 Write an account of how events in the 1930s weakened the League of Nations. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The Depression led to economic hardship and misery worldwide in the early 1930s. This impacted the League’s appetite and ability to act and also encouraged extremist leaders in Italy, Japan, and Germany. Unwilling to inflict further suffering through imposing sanctions or for the cost of war, the League was unable to reign in these extremists.
• In 1931, the Mukden Incident led to the Japanese invasion of the Chinese province of Manchuria. A member of the League’s permanent council had broken the Covenant. China appealed to the League, whose condemnation of Japan was ignored. The League was impotent to stop Japan, which launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937.
• In 1935, another permanent member broke the Covenant when Italy invaded Abyssinia. Instead of condemning Mussolini, Britain and France made secret deals with their ally to give him free reign in Abyssinia. League sanctions were limited and ineffective and also prevented Abyssinia from receiving military support from League members.

3 ‘Hitler’s desire to rearm Germany was the main cause of tension in the early 1930s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• When Hitler came to power in 1933, he was determined to undo the Treaty of Versailles and rebuild Germany’s armed forces. One of his key aims was to secure Lebensraum for Germany by expanding into Eastern Europe; to be able to do this, he needed to rearm the country. This caused tensions with other European countries.
• Another factor was Hitler’s determination to reunite all German-speaking people (the Volksdeutsche) under his rule. His first step towards this was to reunite Germany and Austria in Anschluss, which was forbidden in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to create havoc, and Italy had to move troops to the border to force Hitler to back down.
• Another factor was Britain’s failure to stand up to Hitler. Britain’s Prime Minister followed a policy of appeasement in the hope that it would prevent another war. In 1935, Britain actually signed a naval agreement with Hitler, in direct contradiction to the Treaty of Versailles. This encouraged further breaches by Hitler, creating more tension.
• Hitler’s desire to rearm was driven by his desire for Lebensraum, which was the leading cause of tension in the early 1930s. Britain and France’s failure to stand up to Hitler, however, allowed Hitler’s aggression to increase and cause further tension.

7 The escalation of tension in Europe

1 Source A is critical of Hitler and Mussolini. How do you know? Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. (4)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The source shows Hitler on a throne in a hellish landscape, with Mussolini at his feet and treaties littering the cracked earth.
• Hitler is depicted as the devil, holding his forked trident, overlooking all the treaty agreements he and Mussolini broke in the 1930s.
• The source was published in 1938, by which time Hitler had begun rearming, had remilitarised the Rhineland, and reunited Germany with Austria – all in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles. In September 1938, the Munich Conference accepted Hitler’s demands for the Sudetenland in return for empty promises of peace in Europe.

2 Write an account of how Germany’s Anschluss with Austria increased international tension. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• Hitler attempted to unite Germany and Austria in 1934 but was stopped by Mussolini. In 1938, with Mussolini now an ally and Britain and France inactive, Hitler tried again, and this time, succeeded.
• Anschluss meant Hitler’s regime gained Austria’s rich resources and 100,000 additional soldiers to fuel his rearmament. It also gave Germany access to Eastern Europe, and the country was now bordering Czechoslovakia (Hitler’s next target) on three sides. Hitler had become a more significant threat, increasing tension among countries desperate to prevent a second world war.
• Britain, France, and the League failed to prevent Anschluss from happening. Many British were sympathetic to the union. France was beset by economic unrest and political turmoil. The League was not consulted, showing it was no longer relevant to international affairs. The lack of retaliation encouraged Hitler to believe he could freely break the Treaty of Versailles, again making Germany a greater threat and increasing tension among countries desperate to avoid war.

3 ‘French weakness was the main reason for Germany’s increasing challenges to peace in the 1930s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• In the 1930s, France struggled with economic unrest and political turmoil. Along with Britain and Italy, France signed the Stresa Front in 1935 to uphold the Locarno Treaties and the Treaty of Versailles. However, French weakness meant they were unable to react to Hitler’s actions, encouraging further violations. A French reaction would likely have stopped the reoccupation of the Rhineland in its tracks.
• British reluctance to act was another factor. Chamberlain settled on a policy of appeasement, hoping that giving in to Hitler’s initial demands would prevent escalation to war. The British people had become increasingly sympathetic to Germany’s grievances since the Treaty of Versailles, and Britain was more concerned about the communist USSR.
• Another reason was Germany’s allies. In 1935, Mussolini joined the Stresa Front with Britain and France, agreeing to hold Germany to account. However, Hitler and Mussolini had much in common, and the League’s actions in 1935 cooled Italy’s relations with Britain and France. The 1936 Rome–Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan encouraged German aggression alongside its equally aggressive allies.
• French weakness was certainly one factor that allowed Germany’s increasing challenges to peace in the 1930s, alongside Britain’s reluctance to act. However, Hitler’s alliances with Japan and Italy also boosted his confidence to act.

8 The outbreak of war

1 How useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying the causes of the Second World War? Explain your answer using Sources A and B and your contextual knowledge. (12)

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Relevant points that could be included

• The first source is a description of Chamberlain’s concerns about Russia.
• The source expresses a ‘profound distrust’ of Russia’s motives and ability to act, having ‘little connection’ to Western ideas of liberty. It shows why Chamberlain was desperate to trust in Hitler in order to encourage an ally against Russian communism.
• The source is Chamberlain’s diary from March 1939, so it is likely to be a reliable account of his private thoughts. Even after the Sudetenland crisis of 1938, Chamberlain seems more concerned about Russia than German expansion and aggression.
• The second source shows Hitler dressed as Father Christmas, placing the countries of Europe – represented by children – into a sack of ‘Germany over all’.
• The source shows a bed labelled ‘Ex French-British family’, suggesting the orphan countries of Europe are now out of the Allies’ shadow and under Hitler’s control.
• The source is a British political cartoon from October 1938, the time the Sudetenland crisis concluded. It shows British concerns over Hitler’s intentions.
• The first source is useful as it shows Chamberlain’s motivations for appeasing Hitler and allowing Stalin to become alienated from the Anglo-French alliance. The second source is useful in illustrating Hitler’s expansionist ambitions, which were a key cause of the Second World War.

2 Write an account of how Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement led to increased tensions in Europe. (8)

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Relevant points that could be included

• Hitler’s aims and aggression were clear to see from his rise in 1933, but Chamberlain followed a policy of appeasement in the hope of securing peace in Europe.
• When Hitler reclaimed the Rhineland in 1936, he could have easily been stopped as his occupying forces were weak and ill-equipped. However, there was sympathy in Britain that Germany was right to protect its own borders. This allowed Germany to secure its western flank from attack, making Hitler more of a threat and encouraging France and Britain to start rearming.
• In 1938, with Mussolini now an ally, Hitler achieved Anschluss with Austria. Again, Britain was sympathetic and did not want to get involved. Austria brought Hitler a rich supply of resources to fuel his rearmament, as well as 100,000 Austrian soldiers, and enabled Germany to surround Czechoslovakia and reach into Eastern Europe.
• In 1938, Hitler moved on to Czechoslovakia, demanding the Sudetenland. Again, Britain gave in to Hitler’s demands in the hope of preventing war. The loss of the fortified Sudetenland left Czechoslovakia open to German invasion in 1939, and the Munich Agreement also alienated Stalin, who was not consulted. This pushed Stalin into the Nazi-Soviet Pact that enabled Hitler to launch his invasion of Poland.

3 ‘Hitler is no more responsible than other leaders for the Second World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (16)

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Relevant points that could be included

• Hitler was responsible for his aggressive actions in breaking the Treaty of Versailles and pursuing an aggressive policy of conquest of Eastern Europe. Hitler wanted to destroy communist Russia and claim the East as ‘living space’ for his expanding German empire. He believed only war could make Germany strong again.
• Chamberlain had ample opportunity to stand up to Hitler before 1939, but his reluctance to do so encouraged Hitler’s ambitions. Britain was not ready for war, and the British people sympathised with Germany over the Treaty of Versailles. Appeasement gave Britain time to rearm, but it also gave Hitler time to build his power.
• Chamberlain’s distrust of Stalin drove the Russian leader into the Nazi-Soviet Pact, without which Hitler could not have risked invading Poland. The Nazi-Soviet Pact gave Hitler the confidence and free reign to invade Poland, even if Britain and France followed through on their promise of protection. It meant that Hitler would not have to face a war on two fronts. Stalin failed to reassure the West that Russia was not a threat to the West.
• Without Hitler’s belligerence and aggressive policies, the Second World War would not have occurred. However, other leaders bear some responsibility for not uniting to contain the threat – and for imposing the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles that led to Hitler’s rise to power.