German foreign policy led to war in Europe.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] It was a vote.
2. [1] It was written into the Treaty of Versailles.
3. [1] After 15 years a plebiscite should be held.
4. [1] It was to decide who should control the region.
5. [1] The choice was France, Germany or stay separate.
6. [1] It was being administered by the League of Nations.
7. [1] Both France and Germany wanted the Saar because of the rich coalfields.
8. [1] The people voted to rejoin Germany.
9. [1] There was intimidation by the Gestapo during the plebiscite.
10. [1] It was important because it was a victory for Hitler justifying his idea of uniting all German speakers.
11. [6] (Level 4) Britain went to war over Poland because it had decided that Hitler could not be trusted and that what he really wanted was to dominate the whole of Europe. Hitler had so far demilitarised the Rhineland, achieved Anschluss, taken the Sudetenland and then invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler had broken his promises at each stage and Britain could not continue to let Hitler take one country after another.
12. [5] (Level 3) Britain went to war over Poland because it had decided that Hitler could not be trusted and that his actions (demilitarising the Rhineland, Anschluss, Sudetenland, invading Czechoslovakia) indicated a desire for European domination, having broken promises at each stage, making further appeasement impossible.
13. [1] (Level 2) The policy of appeasement was not working.
14. [1] (Level 2) Hitler broke the promises he made in Munich.
15. [1] (Level 2) The policy of appeasement ended after the German takeover of Czechoslovakia.
16. [1] (Level 2) It looked as if Hitler was out to dominate the whole of Europe.
17. [1] (Level 2) Britain had been rearming.
18. [1] (Level 2) In March 1939, Britain gave a guarantee to Poland.
19. [1] (Level 1) Britain went to war in 1939 because of what Hitler was doing. Britain decided that action had to be taken.
20. [10] (Level 5) Although it may seem surprising because Hitler hated communism, the pact made absolute sense at the time. Hitler knew he might have to fight Britain and France, so he did not want to fight Russia at the same time. The pact saved him from this and helped him move towards Lebensraum. It was also convenient for Stalin to strengthen his army. It was not at all surprising.
21. [6] (Level 3) It was not at all surprising. From Germany's point of view, it made a lot of sense. Hitler was worried about fighting a war on two fronts. The Nazi-Soviet Pact prevented this. He and Stalin agreed to divide Poland up between them and not to attack each other. This meant Hitler could invade Poland without worrying that Russia would attack Germany.
22. [6] (Level 3) It was very surprising. Up until this point Hitler had regarded the Soviet Union and communism as his greatest enemies. Fascism and communism were complete opposites and in Mein Kampf he wrote about destroying the Soviet Union. Also, the Russians were Slavs and Hitler regarded Slavs as subhuman. All this makes the pact very surprising.
23. [1] (Level 2) Hitler regarded Slavs as subhuman.
24. [1] (Level 2) Hitler hated communism.
25. [1] (Level 2) Germany and the Soviet Union had been enemies.
26. [1] (Level 2) Hitler had signed the Anti-Comintern Pact.
27. [1] (Level 2) Hitler fought against communists in the Spanish Civil War.
28. [1] (Level 2) The Soviet Union had made a Mutual Assistance Pact with France.
29. [1] (Level 2) It protected Hitler from having to fight on two fronts.
30. [1] (Level 2) It meant the Soviet Union would not attack Germany.
31. [1] (Level 2) It gave Hitler half of Poland.
32. [1] (Level 2) It helped Hitler achieve Lebensraum.
33. [1] (Level 2) It gave Hitler the confidence to attack Poland.
34. [1] (Level 2) It gave the Soviet Union time to build up its forces.
35. [1] (Level 2) At that time, it saved the Soviet Union from a German attack.
36. [1] (Level 2) Britain and France had shown no interest in an alliance with the Soviet Union.
37. [1] (Level 2) Stalin saw Britain and France being helpless in the League over Abyssinia.
38. [1] (Level 2) Stalin had not been consulted over the Munich agreement.
39. [1] (Level 1) The Nazi-Soviet Pact was a non-aggression pact but also had other parts to it. Both Germany and the Soviet Union were very pleased with it but it worried many other countries.