Paper 1 Section B/A: Conflict and tension: the First World War,

June 2021

Q1: Source A is critical of the war on the Western Front. How do you know?

Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet.

Answer:

features of the source. For example, the date of the source is from after the war and reflects the horror people felt about the huge death toll and fighting conditions. Soldiers sometimes drowned because they could not climb out of the craters caused by For example, the picture shows dead bodies were left unburied. The artist was British and many British soldiers died in the war.

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying the rivalry between

Germany and Britain before the First World War? Explain your answer using Sources B and C and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

In analysing and evaluating sources, students will draw on their contextual example, the context of the time in which source was created, place, author’s evaluate the relationship between the sources based on analysis of For example, the sources show that the rivalry developed over time. The issue of German ambition became more threatening for Britain as time went on. As Germany became more powerful there was greater international fear of conflict resulting from events in Morocco during 1905 and Bosnia in 1908. For example, the date of Source B indicates that Anglo -German rivalry began at the start of the 20th century. The Kaiser openly states how proud he is of his ‘place in the sun’ which refers to colonies in Africa. He began to transform Germany into a world power and is announcing that he is willing to use military power to defend his position. The date of Source C is from the time when the naval race intensified; Germany and Britain competed to build the most powerful type of warship called dreadnoughts and super dreadnoughts. For example, Source B is useful because it shows how ambitious the Kaiser was in 1901to build up the German Empire by taking over new colonies. He wanted to make the army and navy much bigger. Source C is useful because the face of the British sailor shows that Britain is unhappy that the German Navy was getting stronger. Britain had been the world’s strongest naval power. to the enquiry point, for example, Source B says that the Kaiser wants to conquer more land. The words in Source C show that Britain and Germany had rivalry over ships, men and money.

Q3: Write an account of how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to the

outbreak of the First World War.

Answer:

with complex sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate and example, to an analysis of how/why tension increased at different stages and /or showing understanding about how much each part of the sequence increased tension and led to a crisis. For example, analysis of different causes / consequences over time. The assassination was the short-term cause of world war because there was a bigger context of long term, wide ranging causes. Its significance was the impact it had on pre-existing policies such as Germany’s Schlieffen Plan and the long-standing military alliance between Britain and Belgium. developed sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate factual analysis of how/why tension increased at one stage in the process. For example, the assassination led to world war because it brought other European countries into conflict by virtue of the alliance system. Once Russia mobilised in order to defend Serbia from Austria, the Dual and Triple alliances were invoked and Germany supported Austria by declaring war on Russia. For example, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and was murdered by terrorists from Serbia. Austria attacked Serbia in wanted to get revenge for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The failure of Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive was the main reason for the end of the

First World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [SPaG 4 marks]

Answer:

explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, the failure of Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive was a short-term reason for the end of the war because it took such a toll on the strength of the German army. However, there was a wider context to the end of the war that stretched beyond the battles on the Western Front. The long-term effect of the war on the home front in Germany had taken its toll on the morale of the whole population and the credibility of the Kaiser’s leadership. These factors contributed directly to the signing of the armistice. For example, Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive was initially very successful but the advance was not sustained. The German army came within firing range of Paris but the German salients into enemy territory could not be supported as supply lines were too extended. The Allies reorganised their armies under the unified command of Foch and were able to attack the German salient from three sides and prevent any further advance. For example, the entry of the USA in 1917 brought the war to an end because it made the Allies a lot stronger. Extra soldiers, food and equipment became available to Great Britain and France whilst Germany continued to grow weaker. US support brought in ‘The Hundred Days’ counter attack during which the Allies broke through the German defences on the Hindenburg Line. For example, by 1918 the British Naval Blockade had caused starvation in Germany. Soldiers and sailors began to mutiny and refused to follow orders. The German people wanted a change of government and the Kaiser was replaced as the country’s leader. German army lost thousands of soldiers during Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive that could not be replaced. entered the war on the side of the Allies. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold