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Secondary 3 History Practice Paper 1

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History Secondary 3

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) Version: 1 of 5

Subject: History Level: Secondary 3 (Express/Normal Academic) Paper: Source-Based Case Study Practice Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes Total Marks: 40

Name: __________________________
Class: __________________________
Date: __________________________

Instructions to Candidates

This paper consists of two sections: Section A and Section B.
Section A: Source-Based Case Study. Answer all questions.
Section B: Structured Essay Questions. Answer one question from the choice provided.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

Section A: Source-Based Case Study

Topic: The Rise of Authoritarian Regimes – Nazi Germany (1933–1939)

Study the sources below and answer the questions that follow.

Source A A cartoon published in a British newspaper, 'The Daily Mirror', in March 1936. It depicts Adolf Hitler as a gambler playing poker. He is holding cards labeled 'Rhineland', 'Peace Promises', and 'Bluff'. Across the table sit representatives of Britain and France, looking nervous and hesitant to challenge him. The caption reads: "Is he bluffing?"

Source B An excerpt from a speech by Adolf Hitler to the Reichstag (German Parliament) on 7 March 1936, announcing the remilitarisation of the Rhineland.

"German men and women! The violation of the Treaty of Versailles by others has freed us from the obligations we reluctantly accepted. Today, German troops are marching into the Rhineland. We are not attacking anyone; we are merely returning to our own home. If the other powers do not like this, let them take it to the League of Nations. But know this: no power will stop us by force. We are determined to restore the honour and sovereignty of the German nation."

Source C An excerpt from the private diary of Pierre Laval, the French Foreign Minister, dated 8 March 1936.

"The situation is critical. The Germans have moved troops into the demilitarised zone. Our generals tell me that to eject them, we would need to mobilise the entire French army. The public is not ready for war; they are pacifist and fearful after the horrors of the Great War. Britain refuses to support military action, urging caution. We are left with no choice but to protest diplomatically. To act alone is suicide."

Source D Statistics showing the change in unemployment in Germany between 1932 and 1938.

Year	Unemployed (Millions)
1932	6.0
1933	4.8
1934	2.7
1935	1.7
1936	1.6
1937	0.9
1938	0.4

(Source: Adapted from historical economic records of the Third Reich)

Source E A photograph of a Nazi rally in Nuremberg, 1935. Thousands of young people are seen marching in uniform, holding swastika flags. In the background, a large banner reads: "One People, One Reich, One Leader." The faces of the crowd show enthusiasm and unity.

1. What does Source A tell you about the attitude of Britain and France towards Hitler’s actions in 1936? [2]

2. Study Source B. What is the purpose of this source? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge. [4]

3. How reliable is Source C in explaining why France did not stop the remilitarisation of the Rhineland? [4]

4. Study Sources B and C. Does Source C prove that Hitler’s claim in Source B was correct? Explain your answer. [4]

5. "The Great Depression was the main reason for the Nazis’ consolidation of power between 1933 and 1939." How far do Sources D and E support this statement? Explain your answer using the sources and your knowledge. [6]

Section B: Structured Essay Questions

Answer one question from this section.

6. (a) Why did Hitler break the terms of the Treaty of Versailles between 1935 and 1938? [6] (b) "Appeasement was the main cause of the outbreak of World War II in Europe." Do you agree? Explain your answer. [10]

7. (a) Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed in August 1939? [6] (b) "The weakness of the League of Nations was the main reason for the failure of collective security in the 1930s." Do you agree? Explain your answer. [10]

[END OF PAPER]

Answers

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History Secondary 3

Answer Key & Marking Scheme

Version: 1 of 5 Subject: History Level: Secondary 3

Section A: Source-Based Case Study

1. What does Source A tell you about the attitude of Britain and France towards Hitler’s actions in 1936? [2]

Level 1 (1 mark): Simple inference.
- e.g., They were worried/nervous.
- e.g., They were unsure if Hitler was bluffing.
Level 2 (2 marks): Inference with support from the source.
- e.g., Source A tells me that Britain and France were hesitant to confront Hitler. The cartoon shows them looking "nervous" and sitting passively while Hitler holds the cards, suggesting they were afraid to challenge his "bluff" regarding the Rhineland.

2. Study Source B. What is the purpose of this source? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge. [4]

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Identifies purpose but explanation is weak or lacks detail.
- e.g., To justify his actions.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Clear identification of purpose with detailed explanation linking source content and context.
- Purpose: To justify the remilitarisation of the Rhineland to the German people and the international community / To rally domestic support.
- Explanation: Hitler claims that Germany is only "returning to our own home" and that the Treaty of Versailles was violated by others first. This portrays Germany as a victim acting in self-defence rather than an aggressor. By stating "no power will stop us," he aims to project strength and unity to the German public, consolidating his power by appearing to restore national sovereignty.

3. How reliable is Source C in explaining why France did not stop the remilitarisation of the Rhineland? [4]

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Evaluates reliability based on only one aspect (Origin or Content) or makes a simple judgment without explanation.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Evaluates reliability by considering both Origin/Purpose and Content/Limitations.
- Reliable aspects (Origin/Purpose): As the French Foreign Minister’s private diary, it provides an honest, insider account of the government’s thinking. Laval had no reason to lie in a private diary, so it reliably reveals the true reason for inaction: fear of war and lack of British support.
- Limitations (Content/Perspective): It reflects only the French perspective and Laval’s personal justification. It may downplay other factors, such as France’s own military unpreparedness or political instability, to make the decision seem inevitable. It is a subjective view, not an objective fact.
- Conclusion: It is highly reliable for understanding the French government's mindset but should be cross-referenced with British sources to get a full picture.

4. Study Sources B and C. Does Source C prove that Hitler’s claim in Source B was correct? Explain your answer. [4]

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Simple comparison or agreement/disagreement without detailed explanation.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Detailed comparison evaluating the claim against the evidence.
- Hitler’s Claim (Source B): Hitler claims "no power will stop us by force" and implies that the move is justified and unopposed.
- Evidence from Source C: Source C supports the part of the claim that no force was used to stop them. Laval states, "To act alone is suicide" and notes Britain "refuses to support military action." Thus, France did not use force.
- Nuance/Evaluation: However, Source C does not prove Hitler’s claim that the action was morally or legally correct ("returning to our own home"). Laval describes the situation as "critical" and a "violation," implying it was an aggressive act that France wanted to stop but couldn't due to weakness. So, Source C proves the outcome (no resistance) but not the justification (rightness of the action).

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Describes sources without linking to the statement or uses only one source.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Uses both sources to support or challenge the statement but explanation is partial.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Balanced evaluation using both sources and own knowledge to judge the extent of support.
- Support from Source D: Source D shows unemployment dropping from 6 million in 1932 to 0.4 million in 1938. This supports the statement because economic recovery reduced opposition to the Nazis. People were grateful for "Work and Bread," which consolidated Hitler’s power as the economy improved under his regime.
- Challenge/Nuance from Source E: Source E shows a Nazi rally with enthusiastic crowds and propaganda ("One People, One Reich"). This suggests that power was also consolidated through propaganda, indoctrination, and creating a sense of national unity, not just economics. The emotional appeal and control over society played a huge role.
- Own Knowledge: While the Depression helped Hitler gain power initially, consolidation after 1933 also relied on terror (Gestapo, SS), banning other parties, and controlling media. The economy was important, but fear and propaganda were equally vital.
- Conclusion: The sources suggest the Depression’s aftermath (economic recovery) was a key factor, but Source E highlights that ideological control was also essential. Therefore, the Depression was a major reason, but not the only reason.

Section B: Structured Essay Questions

6. (a) Why did Hitler break the terms of the Treaty of Versailles between 1935 and 1938? [6]

1 mark for each valid reason explained (max 3 reasons x 2 marks for explanation).
Reason 1: Domestic Popularity/Consolidation of Power. Breaking the treaty was popular with Germans who hated Versailles. It made Hitler look strong and patriotic, boosting his support.
Reason 2: Military Expansion/Lebensraum. Hitler needed to rearm to prepare for war and expansion into Eastern Europe. The treaty limited the army to 100,000 men and banned air force/submarines. Rearmament was essential for his ideological goals.
Reason 3: Testing Allied Resolve/Appeasement. Hitler wanted to see if Britain and France would stop him. When they did not (e.g., Anglo-German Naval Agreement), he gained confidence to take bigger risks (Rhineland, Anschluss).
Reason 4: Economic Recovery. Rearmament created jobs and stimulated the German economy, helping to end the Depression.

6. (b) "Appeasement was the main cause of the outbreak of World War II in Europe." Do you agree? Explain your answer. [10]

Level 1 (1-3 marks): Simple statement of agreement/disagreement with limited explanation.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Explains one side of the argument well or both sides superficially.
Level 3 (7-10 marks): Balanced argument evaluating the relative importance of appeasement vs. other factors.
Arguments for Appeasement being the main cause:
- It encouraged Hitler. Each time he was allowed to break the treaty (Rhineland, Anschluss, Sudetenland), he became bolder.
- It deprived Czechoslovakia of allies. The Munich Agreement betrayed Czechoslovakia, leaving it defenseless and giving Germany its industrial resources.
- It wasted time. While Britain and France hoped for peace, Germany was rearming rapidly. By 1939, Germany was militarily stronger than it had been in 1938.
Arguments for other factors being more important:
- Hitler’s Aggression/Ideology: Hitler intended war from the start (Lebensraum). Appeasement only delayed it; he would have found another excuse. His aims were non-negotiable.
- Failure of Collective Security/League of Nations: The League’s failure in Manchuria and Abyssinia showed that aggression paid off, creating a culture of impunity before appeasement even began.
- Nazi-Soviet Pact: This pact guaranteed Hitler that he would not face a two-front war immediately, giving him the green light to invade Poland. Without this, he might have hesitated.
Conclusion: Appeasement was a significant factor because it allowed Germany to grow stronger without resistance. However, Hitler’s aggressive ideology and the Nazi-Soviet Pact were equally critical. Appeasement facilitated the war, but Hitler’s intent was the root cause.

7. (a) Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed in August 1939? [6]

1 mark for each valid reason explained (max 3 reasons x 2 marks for explanation).
Reason 1: Avoid Two-Front War for Germany. Hitler wanted to invade Poland without fighting Russia. The pact ensured Soviet neutrality, allowing him to focus on the West.
Reason 2: Gain Time/Resources for USSR. Stalin knew the USSR was not ready for war. The pact bought time to industrialise and rearm. It also gave the USSR territory (Eastern Poland, Baltic states) as a buffer zone.
Reason 3: Failure of Anglo-French-Soviet Talks. Britain and France were slow to negotiate with Stalin and did not offer strong guarantees. Stalin distrusted them and believed they wanted to turn Hitler against the USSR. The German offer was more concrete and immediate.

7. (b) "The weakness of the League of Nations was the main reason for the failure of collective security in the 1930s." Do you agree? Explain your answer. [10]

Level 1 (1-3 marks): Simple statement with limited explanation.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Explains one side well or both sides superficially.
Level 3 (7-10 marks): Balanced argument evaluating the League’s weakness vs. other factors.
Arguments for League Weakness being the main cause:
- Lack of Military Power: The League had no army. It relied on member states to contribute forces, which they were unwilling to do (e.g., Abyssinia).
- Absence of Major Powers: The USA never joined. Germany and Japan left. The USSR joined late. This made the League look weak and ineffective.
- Slow Decision Making: Unanimous voting in the Council made it difficult to take swift action against aggressors.
Arguments for other factors being more important:
- Self-Interest of Member States: Britain and France prioritised their own national interests over collective security. They were unwilling to risk war or economic sanctions (e.g., oil embargo in Abyssinia) because they feared pushing Hitler/Mussolini away or hurting their own economies.
- Rise of Aggressive Dictatorships: Germany, Japan, and Italy were determined to expand regardless of the League. No international organisation could have stopped them without military force, which democracies were unwilling to provide.
- Economic Depression: The Great Depression made countries turn inward. They were focused on domestic economic problems, not international policing. Sanctions were seen as harmful to trade.
Conclusion: The League’s structural weaknesses were important, but the lack of political will from Britain and France was the decisive factor. Even if the League had been stronger, it would have failed if major powers refused to enforce its decisions. Therefore, national self-interest was the main reason for the failure of collective security.