In the years after the Second World War, the United States and the USSR did not agree about everything.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] There would be free elections as soon as possible.
2. [1] A provisional government would be set up.
3. [1] Both members of the Lublin government and exiled Poles would be in the provisional government.
4. [1] The Polish eastern border would follow the Curzon Line.
5. [1] For the US it was a way of gaining economic control of Europe.
6. [1] It was important for the USA because it would help keep communism out of western Europe.
7. [1] For the USA it was a way of preventing an economic slump across the world.
8. [1] For the USA it was a way of making western Europe dependent on the US dollar.
9. [1] The USA wanted to create markets for US exports.
10. [4-5] Explanation: The Marshall Plan helped establish US economic control in Western Europe, drawing it into capitalism and making it dependent on the US dollar. It also created vital markets for American goods, supporting the US economy and preventing a post-war slump.
11. [1] They agreed that Germany should be divided into four zones.
12. [1] They agreed that unconditional surrender was required from Germany.
13. [1] They agreed that Germany should pay reparations.
14. [1] Stalin wanted to break Germany up but the USA disagreed.
15. [1] Stalin wanted Germany crippled but the USA wanted it to recover.
16. [1] They agreed that Germany should be denazified.
17. [1] They agreed where the Polish/German border should be.
18. [1] They agreed that Germany should be treated as one economic unit.
19. [1] In 1946 the American and British zones were merged into one zone called Bizonia. Russia was angry about this.
20. [1] In the western zones a multi-party system began to emerge but this did not happen in the Soviet zone.
21. [1] The Soviets were much keener than the USA to collect reparations from Germany.
22. [4-6] Argument against disagreement: At Yalta and Potsdam (1945), they agreed on several points: Germany's division into four zones, Berlin's division, unconditional surrender, denazification, and reparations (especially for Russia).
23. [4-6] Argument for disagreement: Disagreements intensified over Germany's recovery. Stalin wanted to cripple Germany, fearing a strong Germany, while the USA wanted its recovery as a bulwark against Soviet influence. This led to conflict over reparations and the formation of Bizonia.