From 1943, events in the war began to go against the Axis powers.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] It was fought between US and Japanese forces.
2. [1] The Allies started with a massive bombardment that destroyed many Japanese planes.
3. [1] US troops launched an invasion of Okinawa.
4. [1] US troops managed to cut the island in half.
5. [1] Japan responded with kamikaze planes.
6. [1] Japan's battleship Yamato was sunk.
7. [1] After ferocious fighting and heavy bombardments Japanese resistance was overcome in June.
8. [1] The casualties on both sides were very high.
9. [1] The US victory meant that an invasion of Japan was possible.
10. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
11. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason.
12. [5] They wanted to open a second front that would relieve pressure on the Russians in the east. The Russians had been asking for this. They hoped that the enemy would have to take troops away from the Russian Front and from France where the Allies hoped to land in 1944.
13. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain.
14. [1] It was done to open a second front and relieve pressure in the east.
15. [1] The North African campaign had ended successfully.
16. [1] In 1943 an invasion of France was not possible.
17. [1] To aim at the 'soft underbelly of the Third Reich'.
18. [1] To respond to Russian demands.
19. [1] It would give the Allies new airfields from which to bomb Germany.
20. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
21. [1] The invasion started with taking Sicily. Then the Italian mainland was invaded.
22. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'.
23. [10] While there were structural differences – for example, Japan was not divided up, nor was it directly ruled by the military – the overall attitude and approach was similar: to get rid of the power and influence of the old regimes and their main supporters. In both countries there was hope that democracy could be introduced. This similarity was more important than any differences.
24. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides.
25. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side.
26. [6] In both countries the old form of government, its beliefs and supporters were swept away. The aim was to eliminate the beliefs and ideas of the old regimes and to start again. In both countries the eventual aim was to create democracy and to make sure the old regimes could not return. In both countries the main supporters of the old regimes were removed from their jobs and lost their influence.
27. [6] OR Germany was divided between the Allies. The eastern part was put under Russian control while the western part was divided between the USA, France and Britain. Each ran their zones of occupation differently. In Japan, the USA was the leading occupying power with Britain helping. The Soviet Union had no influence in Japan, while it did in Germany.
28. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain.
29. [1] Suspected Nazis were rounded up in Germany, as were extreme nationalists in Japan.
30. [1] War crimes trials were held in both countries.
31. [1] There was de-Nazification in Germany, and 'rightists' were banned from public office in Japan and nationalist organisations abolished.
32. [1] Attempts were made at re-starting economic life in both countries.
33. [1] Democracy was later introduced into both countries.
34. [1] Germany was stripped of its sovereignty; Japan was not.
35. [1] There was military occupation in both countries.
36. [1] Germany was governed directly by the military; Japan was not.
37. [1] Germany was divided amongst the Allies; Japan was not.
38. [1] There was land reform in Japan, but there was no such reform in Germany.
39. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
40. [1] Both countries were defeated in the war and so both were occupied. The methods used in Germany were slightly different from those used in Japan, but in both there was a great deal of control.