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Secondary 3 History Practice Paper 2

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History Secondary 3

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) Subject: History Level: Secondary 3 Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Total Marks: 50 Version: 2 of 5

Name: _________________________ Class: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Instructions to Candidates

This paper consists of one source-based case study on the topic of Source Based Skills.
There are four questions in this paper. Answer all questions.
The total mark for this paper is 50.
You are advised to spend about 10 minutes reading the sources before you begin writing your answers.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part-question.
You should use your knowledge of the historical context to help you analyse and evaluate the sources.

Source-Based Case Study: The Rise of Nazi Germany

Topic Focus: This case study tests your ability to analyse and evaluate historical sources. You will need to make inferences, compare sources, assess reliability and utility, and reach a supported conclusion using all the sources.

Historical Context: In the early 1930s, Germany faced severe economic and political crises. The Weimar Republic was unpopular, and extremist parties like the Nazi Party gained support. Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933, and he quickly moved to consolidate power, establishing a dictatorship.

Source A: A Nazi Party election poster from July 1932. The poster shows a muscular, determined-looking German worker, sleeves rolled up, standing against a bright red background. The text reads: "We are building the new Germany! Vote Hitler."

Source B: An extract from a speech by a Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician in the Reichstag, February 1933. The SPD was a rival political party.

"The Nazis promise bread and work, but their real programme is the destruction of democracy. They have already shown their contempt for the law through street violence and intimidation of their opponents. Hitler's appointment as Chancellor is a disaster for the German people. We will oppose this government with all legal means at our disposal."

Source C: A British journalist's report from Berlin, published in a London newspaper in March 1933.

"There is a strange atmosphere in Berlin. The streets are filled with Nazi flags and marching Stormtroopers, yet many ordinary Germans seem hopeful. I spoke to a shopkeeper who told me, 'At last, someone is taking charge. The unemployment queues were endless before. Now there is a sense of purpose.' But I also met a university professor, too afraid to give his name, who whispered, 'This is the end of freedom in Germany. The Reichstag Fire Decree has given them the power to arrest anyone they choose.'"

Source D: A photograph taken on the night of 27 February 1933, showing the Reichstag building in Berlin engulfed in flames. Firefighters are visible attempting to control the blaze.

Source E: An extract from the "Reichstag Fire Decree" (Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State), issued on 28 February 1933.

"Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict the rights of personal freedom, freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, the right of assembly and association, and the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications. Searches of homes and confiscations of property are also permitted beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed."

Source F: An extract from a speech by Adolf Hitler to factory workers, delivered in 1934 and later published in a Nazi Party pamphlet.

"Four years ago, Germany was on the brink of collapse. Today, thanks to National Socialism, we have restored order, dignity, and work for millions. The autobahns are being built, industry is reviving, and the German people stand united behind one leader and one nation. The dark days of Weimar are behind us forever."

Questions

Question 1

Study Source A.

(a) What is the message of this poster? Explain your answer using details of the source. [5]

(b) Explain how the historical context helps you understand this source. [5]

Question 2

Study Sources B and C.

(a) In what ways are Sources B and C similar? Explain your answer using details of both sources. [6]

(b) How far does Source C make Source B more reliable as evidence about German attitudes in early 1933? Explain your answer. [7]

Question 3

Study Sources D and E.

How useful are Sources D and E together as evidence about how Hitler consolidated power in 1933? Explain your answer. [12]

Question 4

Study all the sources (A-F).

"The German people willingly supported the Nazi regime from the beginning." How far do the sources support this statement? Explain your answer using all the sources. [15]

END OF PAPER

Answers

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History Secondary 3

Answer Key and Marking Scheme

Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper Version: 2 of 5 Total Marks: 50

Question 1: Source A

(a) What is the message of this poster? Explain your answer using details of the source. [5]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-2 marks): Describes the source without inferring a message. E.g., "It shows a worker and says vote for Hitler."
L2 (3-4 marks): Identifies a message with some support from the source. E.g., "The message is that the Nazis will help workers."
L3 (5 marks): Clearly states the message and explains it using specific details from the source, linking to Nazi ideology or the context of the 1932 election.

Model Answer: The message of the poster is that the Nazi Party represents strength, hard work, and national renewal, and that voting for Hitler will build a better Germany. The poster shows a muscular, determined-looking German worker with sleeves rolled up, which conveys the idea of physical strength, discipline, and readiness to work. This appeals to ordinary working-class Germans who were suffering from unemployment during the Great Depression. The text "We are building the new Germany!" suggests that the Nazis have a positive, constructive plan for the future, in contrast to the failures of the Weimar Republic. The command "Vote Hitler" directly links this vision of strength and renewal to electoral support for the Nazi Party. The bright red background is eye-catching and associated with energy and revolution, further reinforcing the message of dynamic change.

(b) Explain how the historical context helps you understand this source. [5]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-2 marks): Provides general context without linking it to the source. E.g., "Germany had problems in 1932."
L2 (3-4 marks): Provides relevant context and makes some connection to the source. E.g., "There was high unemployment, so the poster shows a worker."
L3 (5 marks): Explains specific contextual factors and clearly shows how they illuminate the purpose and content of the source.

Model Answer: The historical context of the Great Depression is crucial to understanding this source. By July 1932, Germany was experiencing mass unemployment, with over six million people out of work. The Weimar Republic appeared unable to solve the economic crisis, and many Germans had lost faith in democratic government. This context explains why the poster focuses on a worker: the Nazis were deliberately targeting working-class voters who had been devastated by unemployment. The promise to "build the new Germany" would have resonated with people desperate for change and economic recovery. Furthermore, the 1932 election campaign took place against a background of political violence and instability, which explains the poster's emphasis on strength and determination. The Nazis were presenting themselves as the strong, decisive alternative to a weak and divided Weimar system. Understanding this context of crisis helps us see that the poster was not just a general appeal, but a carefully targeted piece of propaganda designed to exploit the fears and hopes of a desperate population.

Question 2: Sources B and C

(a) In what ways are Sources B and C similar? Explain your answer using details of both sources. [6]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-2 marks): Identifies a similarity based on topic only. E.g., "Both are about the Nazis."
L2 (3-4 marks): Identifies similarities with some supporting detail from one or both sources.
L3 (5-6 marks): Identifies and explains similarities using specific details from both sources, showing a clear basis of comparison.

Model Answer: Sources B and C are similar in several ways. Firstly, both sources acknowledge that the Nazis had come to power and were changing Germany. Source B refers to "Hitler's appointment as Chancellor" and warns of the "destruction of democracy," while Source C describes "Nazi flags and marching Stormtroopers" in Berlin. Both recognise that a significant political shift had occurred.

Secondly, both sources express concern about the loss of freedom under Nazi rule. Source B warns that the Nazis' "real programme is the destruction of democracy" and mentions "street violence and intimidation of their opponents." Similarly, Source C includes the voice of a university professor who fears that "this is the end of freedom in Germany" and notes that the Reichstag Fire Decree has given the Nazis power "to arrest anyone they choose." Both sources, therefore, highlight the repressive nature of the new regime.

Thirdly, both sources present a negative or critical perspective on the Nazis. Source B is openly hostile, calling Hitler's appointment a "disaster," while Source C balances hopeful voices with the fearful, anonymous professor, ultimately conveying a sense of unease and danger. Neither source presents the Nazi rise as a purely positive development.

(b) How far does Source C make Source B more reliable as evidence about German attitudes in early 1933? Explain your answer. [7]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-2 marks): Makes a simple assertion about reliability without explanation. E.g., "Source C supports Source B so it is reliable."
L2 (3-4 marks): Explains how Source C supports or challenges Source B, with some reference to provenance or content.
L3 (5-6 marks): Explains how Source C corroborates Source B, considering the nature and provenance of both sources.
L4 (7 marks): Provides a balanced evaluation, explaining both how Source C supports Source B's reliability and the limitations of this support, reaching a reasoned conclusion.

Model Answer: Source C does make Source B more reliable to a significant extent, but with some limitations.

Source C corroborates Source B's claim that the Nazi regime was repressive and a threat to freedom. Source B, from an SPD politician, claims the Nazis are destroying democracy through "street violence and intimidation." Source C provides independent evidence of this from a British journalist, who reports that a professor feared "this is the end of freedom" and that the Reichstag Fire Decree allowed arrests of "anyone they choose." The fact that a foreign observer, with no direct stake in German party politics, confirms the SPD politician's warnings strengthens the credibility of Source B's claims. The journalist's report is based on direct observation and interviews, giving it the quality of eyewitness testimony.

However, there are limitations. Source C also presents a more complex picture than Source B. The British journalist notes that "many ordinary Germans seem hopeful" and quotes a shopkeeper who welcomes the sense of "purpose." This suggests that Source B's wholly negative portrayal may not capture the full range of German attitudes. Source B, as a speech by a political opponent, is inherently partisan and may exaggerate the threat for political effect. Source C, while supporting the existence of repression, also reveals that some Germans supported the regime, which Source B does not acknowledge.

Therefore, Source C makes Source B more reliable in confirming that repression and fear existed, but it also suggests that Source B's one-sided negativity may not reflect the full spectrum of German attitudes in early 1933. Source B is partially corroborated but should be read alongside evidence of popular support.

Question 3: Sources D and E

How useful are Sources D and E together as evidence about how Hitler consolidated power in 1933? Explain your answer. [12]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-3 marks): Describes the sources or makes simple assertions about usefulness. E.g., "Source D shows the fire, Source E shows the decree."
L2 (4-6 marks): Explains the usefulness of one or both sources with some reference to content or context, but lacks balance.
L3 (7-9 marks): Explains the usefulness of both sources, considering what they reveal and their limitations, with some cross-referencing.
L4 (10-12 marks): Provides a balanced evaluation of both sources together, explaining what they reveal about Nazi consolidation of power, their limitations, and how they complement each other. Reaches a clear, supported conclusion on their combined usefulness.

Model Answer: Sources D and E are very useful together as evidence about how Hitler consolidated power in 1933, though they have limitations that require careful handling.

What the sources reveal: Source D is a photograph of the Reichstag building on fire on 27 February 1933. This is directly useful because the Reichstag Fire was a pivotal event in Hitler's consolidation of power. The Nazis blamed the fire on a Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, and used it as a pretext to claim that Germany was under threat from a communist revolution. This created a climate of fear and emergency that Hitler exploited to demand sweeping powers.

Source E is the Reichstag Fire Decree, issued the day after the fire. It is extremely useful because it shows the concrete legal measures Hitler used to dismantle civil liberties. The decree suspended key articles of the Weimar Constitution, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. It also allowed for searches and confiscations without normal legal limits. This decree was the legal foundation for the Nazi crackdown on political opponents, particularly the Communists and Social Democrats, and remained in force throughout the Nazi period.

How they work together: Together, the sources show the sequence and method of Nazi consolidation. Source D shows the event (the fire), and Source E shows the response (the decree). They demonstrate how the Nazis used a crisis—whether genuine or manufactured—to justify the seizure of extraordinary powers. This is a classic example of how Hitler consolidated power: by exploiting events to create a legal framework for dictatorship.

Limitations: However, the sources have limitations. Source D, as a photograph, shows the fire but does not tell us who started it. Historians still debate whether van der Lubbe acted alone or whether the Nazis were involved. The photograph alone cannot answer this question. Source E is the official text of the decree, but it does not reveal the political pressure and manipulation behind its passage. It does not show that the decree was pushed through by Hitler and that President Hindenburg was persuaded to sign it under the alleged emergency. Furthermore, neither source shows the wider context of intimidation: the SA violence against opponents, the suppression of the press, or the atmosphere of terror that accompanied the March 1933 elections.

Conclusion: Despite these limitations, Sources D and E are highly useful together. They provide direct, contemporary evidence of a key moment in Hitler's consolidation of power: the Reichstag Fire and the legal measures that followed. A historian would need to supplement them with other sources to understand the full context, but as a pair, they offer invaluable insight into the methods—exploitation of crisis and legal manipulation—that characterised the Nazi seizure of power.

Question 4: All Sources (A-F)

"The German people willingly supported the Nazi regime from the beginning." How far do the sources support this statement? Explain your answer using all the sources. [15]

Marking Scheme:

L1 (1-4 marks): Describes sources or makes simple, unsupported assertions. E.g., "Some sources agree, some disagree."
L2 (5-8 marks): Explains how some sources support or challenge the statement, with some use of source content, but lacks balance or synthesis.
L3 (9-12 marks): Provides a balanced analysis, using most sources to explain support for and against the statement, with some evaluation of provenance or cross-referencing.
L4 (13-15 marks): Provides a thorough, balanced evaluation using all sources. Weighs the evidence, considers provenance and typicality, cross-references sources, and reaches a well-supported, nuanced conclusion that directly addresses "how far."

Model Answer: The sources provide a mixed picture, suggesting that the statement is only partially supported. While there is evidence of some willing support, the sources also reveal significant opposition, fear, and manipulation, indicating that "willing support from the beginning" is an oversimplification.

Sources that support the statement: Source A, the Nazi election poster from July 1932, implies that the Nazis were actively seeking and receiving popular support. The fact that such a poster was produced for a democratic election suggests the Nazis believed they could win votes through appeals to workers. The poster's message of building a "new Germany" clearly resonated with enough people to make the Nazis the largest party in the Reichstag by July 1932.

Source C provides direct evidence of willing support. The British journalist reports that "many ordinary Germans seem hopeful" and quotes a shopkeeper who says, "At last, someone is taking charge... Now there is a sense of purpose." This is eyewitness testimony of genuine popular enthusiasm, from a relatively neutral foreign observer, which strengthens its credibility.

Source F, Hitler's 1934 speech, claims that "the German people stand united behind one leader and one nation." While this is propaganda and must be treated with caution, the fact that such a speech was made to factory workers and published in a pamphlet suggests the regime believed it could claim popular support. The reference to restored "order, dignity, and work" points to real achievements that may have generated genuine backing.

Sources that challenge the statement: Source B, from an SPD politician, directly challenges the idea of willing support. It describes Hitler's appointment as a "disaster" and warns of the "destruction of democracy." The mention of "street violence and intimidation of their opponents" suggests that Nazi power was built on coercion, not just consent. The SPD's commitment to "oppose this government" shows that a significant political movement did not willingly support the regime.

Source C, while providing evidence of support, also provides evidence of fear and opposition. The university professor, "too afraid to give his name," whispers that "this is the end of freedom in Germany." This shows that support was not universal and that fear was already silencing dissent. The fact that the professor would not give his name is powerful evidence that willing support was not the whole story.

Source D, the photograph of the Reichstag Fire, does not directly show popular attitudes, but the event it depicts was used by the Nazis to create a climate of fear. The fire was blamed on communists, and this "emergency" was used to justify repression. This context challenges the idea that support was freely given; it was partly manufactured through crisis and propaganda.

Source E, the Reichstag Fire Decree, is the strongest evidence against the statement. The decree suspended fundamental civil liberties, including freedom of expression, press, and assembly. The existence of such a decree shows that the regime felt it necessary to suppress opposition through legal means. If the German people had all willingly supported the regime, such draconian measures would not have been needed. The decree reveals the coercive foundation of Nazi rule from the very beginning.

Conclusion: The sources suggest that the statement is only partially supported. There was undoubtedly some willing support, driven by hope for economic recovery and national renewal, as shown in Sources A, C, and F. However, this support was not universal. Sources B and C reveal significant opposition and fear, while Sources D and E demonstrate that the regime quickly moved to suppress dissent through emergency powers. The picture that emerges is not one of unanimous willing support, but of a complex situation where genuine enthusiasm, fear, coercion, and manipulation coexisted. The Nazi regime actively cultivated support through propaganda while simultaneously crushing opposition through legal and violent means. Therefore, the statement is an oversimplification of a more complex historical reality.

END OF ANSWER KEY