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

June 2020

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Stalin?

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

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A argues that all Stalin’s purges were all defensible because he upheld the achievements of the Bolshevik revolution and preserved the first proletariat state. However, Interpretation B says that Stalin took the Soviet Union in the wrong direction because the people who were purged were alleged to be traitors but were in fact loyal communists. For example, Interpretation A says that Stalin was a good leader. Interpretation B says that Stalin was bad leader.

Q2: Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have different interpretations about

Stalin? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, as leader of China from 1949, Mao is someone who has personally benefited by copying the example of a communist state that was created in the USSR. He will therefore defend Stalin’s actions. Interpretation B is written by someone who was so committed to the ideals of communism that she emigrated from a free country to the USSR but she became disillusioned by the reality of living in a one party socialist state and lost her faith in Stalin. For example, Interpretation A is written by a fellow communist leader whereas Interpretation B is written by someone who was arrested and imprisoned by the communist government of the USSR.

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about Stalin?

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

Answer:

For example, Interpretation B is more convincing because there was no real evidence that the people who were put on trial and purge were a genuine threat to Stalin. They were not enemies as suggested in Interpretation A. Torture was used to extract confession. This process weakened the USSR because so many professional people and experienced military personnel were For example, Interpretation B is convincing because Stalin created a period of ‘Great Terror’ 1934- 39. Using his secret police , he ordered the execution of millions of people. As well as political rivals, the armed forces and ordinary citizens were arrested and without being given a trial they were executed or sent to labour camps. For example, Interpretation A is convincing in its praise of Stalin’s industrialisation which was based on Five Year Plans and achieved an enormous increase in production of steel, electricity and farm machinery. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because Stalin did defeat enemies of the USSR during the Second World War. Interpretation B is convincing about Stalin’s use of terror and purges; Stalin murdered his opponents and forced people to admit to being traitors in ‘Show Trials’.

Q4: Describe two problems faced by people in the USSR during the Second World War.

Answer:

One problem was that the German advance in 1941 was so successful that Stalin ordered factories to be relocated further east out of reach of the German Another problem was that Stalin persecuted national groups within the USSR that may welcome liberation from Soviet rule by the Nazis. For example, millions of people died defending Stalingrad. Huge areas of land were destroyed when Stalin ordered a ‘Scorched Earth’ policy.

Q5: In what ways were the lives of people affected by Stolypin’s policies?

Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, the impact on people varied according to class. Although he termed his approach as ‘carrot and stick’ the benefits were restricted to the already advantaged members of society. Those who believed in the October Manifesto and hoped the new Duma would transform Russia were disappointed that Stolypin upheld the status quo. For example, Stolypin improved the economy by increasing industrial and agricultural production. The Kulaks who were able to buy land created larger and more efficient farms. Capitalists benefited from industrial profits. This created a better standard of living for the wealthy people in the USSR. For example, the peasant classes saw no benefit from Stolypin’s reforms. The majority of peasants lived and worked in poor conditions with low wages because the communes were inefficient. For example, he gave brutal punishments to opponents of the Tsar. Many people were hanged. This was called ‘Stolypin’s necktie’. For example, he allowed wealthy peasants to buy land.

Q6: Which of the following was the more important reason for the success of the

Bolshevik revolution in October/November 1917: • Russia’s problems • the leadership of the Bolsheviks? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points. 206G8145/1a/c

Answer:

For example, both factors contributed at different stages to the success of the revolution in October/November 1917. The pre-existing problems and lack of support associated with Kerensky’s Provisional Government meant it could not defend itself against the strength and organisation of Trotsky’s Red Guards once the Bolsheviks had seized control of Petrograd in November 1917. For example, the Provisional Government was weak and had little support. There had been repeated attempts to remove it from power. The protests by soldiers and sailors during the July Days and the Kornilov Affair showed that the government was not secure. For example, the Bolsheviks were well led by Lenin; his April Theses offered a clear plan of action involving the overthrow of the Petrograd Soviet. They gained support because they had a very effective propaganda message of offering ‘peace, bread and land’. For example, the Provisional Government was unpopular; they did not address Russia’s problems. They refused to distribute land to the peasants or to end Russian involvement in the war. It was a temporary organisation made up of many different parties that could not agree on policies. For example, the Russian people were desperate for change. Russian defeats The Bolsheviks takeover of Petrograd was carefully planned by Trotsky.