Soviet control of Eastern Europe came under increasing pressure.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1] In Hungary people began dismantling the fence between Hungary and Austria.
2. [1] In Poland there were free elections.
3. [1] In Poland Solidarity won the elections.
4. [1] In Poland a member of Solidarity became Prime Minister.
5. [1] In June Poland became independent of the USSR.
6. [1] In September Hungary became independent of the USSR.
7. [1] In October there were mass demonstrations when Gorbachev visited East Germany.
8. [1] In November the Berlin Wall was removed and free movement begins.
9. [1] In November Czechoslovakia opened its borders with the West.
10. [1] In December Communist governments fell in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania.
11. [1] He was leader of Czechoslovakia in 1967.
12. [1] He tried to introduce 'socialism with a human face' into Czechoslovakia.
13. [1] He tried to introduce reforms into Czechoslovakia.
14. [1] He refused to back down to the Soviets.
15. [1] His reforms led to Soviet tanks moving into Czechoslovakia.
16. [1] He showed that the Soviets were not going to allow any reforms at all.
17. [4-5] Explanation: Dubček led the Prague Spring, attempting to introduce freedoms into Czechoslovakia while remaining communist and loyal to the USSR. The Soviet invasion demonstrated Moscow's refusal to tolerate any reforms.
18. [1] There were mass demonstrations in Hungary against Soviet control.
19. [1] The Hungarian government threatened to leave the Warsaw Pact.
20. [1] The Soviets had to send tanks in.
21. [1] There were pitched battles in the streets in Hungary.
22. [1] Solidarity had taken over the Polish government.
23. [1] Solidarity had the support of over 9 million Poles.
24. [1] Solidarity could have spread to other communist countries.
25. [1] The Soviets had to lock up the leaders and crush Solidarity.
26. [4-6] Argument for Hungary (1956) being more serious: It was a violent uprising against Soviet control, with Nagy threatening to leave the Warsaw Pact, posing an existential threat to the Soviet bloc and communism, requiring forceful military intervention with street battles.
27. [4-6] Argument for Solidarity (1980-81) being more serious: It was a broad-based, well-organized trade union movement with over 9 million members that forced government concessions and fought for human rights across communist countries, representing a deeper, more systemic ideological and political threat that could have spread throughout the bloc.