Paper 1 Section A/C: Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism

June 2024

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Stalin’s wartime

leadership? Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A says that Stalin’s intelligence and determined personality were the reasons why the USSR was successful against the Germans. Whereas, Interpretation B says that Stalin had weakened the Soviet army with his purges before the war and reduced their chance of success by not preparing the army properly as the German army approached. For example, Interpretation A says Stalin was a great war leader whereas Interpretation B says he did not understand what was going on during the war.

Q2: Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation

about Stalin’s wartime leadership? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, the author of Interpretation B may be criticising Stalin’s style of leadership in order to win support for himself as he has recently been appointed. He wants to give people confidence that they will see improvements under his leadership compared to Stalin’s. Whereas the author of Interpretation A may want to emphasise how well he knew Stalin so that he himself seems For example, Interpretation A was written by someone who relied on Stalin during the Second World War. Interpretation B was written by someone who wanted to be a different sort of leader from Stalin.

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about Stalin’s wartime

leadership? Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A is the most convincing because it recognises Stalin’s wartime achievements. After the initial invasion and rapid advance across the USSR by the Germans, Stalin’s military strategies and inspiring patriotism brought victory. For example, Interpretation B is convincing about the damaging effect of Stalin’s purges on the Red Army. During the 1930s, Stalin wanted to remove all potential opposition and he targeted the Army. One fifth of all officers were sent to labour camps or killed which meant that the Red Army was not as strong as it could have been by the time of the German invasion. However, Interpretation A is also convincing because Stalin’s defensive action with his ‘scorched earth’ policy shows his ability to plan in detail and act upon it. Whole factories were dismantled and reconstructed out of reach of the advancing Germans, and this allowed the USSR to keep its army supplied and able to fight back. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because Stalin did lead the USSR to victory in the Second World War. The German army surrendered at Stalingrad in 1943 and Soviet forces reached Berlin in 1945 before American and British troops arrived from the West. For example, Interpretation B is convincing because Stalin did ignore warnings from his colleagues about the invasion of Russia by Germany in 1942. He was taken by surprise.

Q4: Describe two problems faced by Stolypin in the years 1906 to 1911.

Answer:

For example, one problem was that Stolypin had to try and increase agricultural production in Russia. He allowed Kulaks to buy up land which created larger and more efficient farms. Another problem was dealing with thousands of strikers and revolutionaries that were opposed to the Tsar. He had many people exiled or hanged so that opposition in the countryside was contained. For example, Stolypin had to get rid of all the people that opposed the Tsar.

Q5: In what ways were the lives of Soviet people affected by collectivisation?

Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, people were affected differently by collectivisation depending on whether they were part of agricultural production in the countryside or industrial production in the cities. For the people in the countryside collectivisation damaged their food supply and livelihood but for those in industrial centres it increased the supply of food. For example, the lives of Kulaks were badly affected when they refused to give up their privately owned land to the Collectives. The government took food off them by force and many Kulaks were sent to labour camps as punishment for their opposition. Some Kulaks resorted to destroying their own crops rather than handing them over to the communists. For example, ordinary peasants suffered under collectivisation because food production fell as the countryside adapted to the new farming methods of the kolkhoz. However, the government still collected as much as it could for export and this left the people starving. There was a famine 1932-33. For example, peasants were forced to modernise their farming methods. They were given tractors, fertilisers and free seeds in order to increase production. For example, peasants had to put their farms together to form large farms with

Q6: Which of the following was the more important reason why Lenin was able to

strengthen his control over Russia following the October/November Revolution: • the use of force • economic policies? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

For example, both reasons were linked. In the short-term, the use of force was more important for Lenin to ensure he stayed in control by defeating the political challenge posed by the Whites. However, in the long term, mindful of the Kronstadt rebellion in 1921, Lenin had to strengthen his control by guaranteeing that the Russian people would continue to support him. This was achieved by his changed economic policies. The NEP allowed him to deliver the bread, peace and land he had promised. For example, after the October Revolution, Lenin was able to strengthen his control because he had military success in the Civil War. The Red Guards that had led the takeover of Petrograd in 1917 were developed into the Red Army in 1918 and they were able to defeat the Whites. The Tsar was executed so that there was no possibility of him emerging as leader for the Whites. For example, Lenin strengthened his control over Russia by changing his economic policy and creating the NEP in 1921. This was designed to improve the economy after the Civil War. War Communism had led to food shortages and famine in the countryside. The NEP allowed for private ownership and trading for profit which helped to increase production and brought more support for the communist government. For example, a new policy of War Communism was created by the government which took over all factories and brought the economy under state control. Production targets were set, and private trade was not allowed. Trade unions were banned, and food was rationed. For example, Lenin set up a secret police force called the Cheka, to remove any opponents by killing them. The Communists took control of the whole economy to make sure that the army was properly equipped and fed.