Hitler's foreign policy involved Germany in developments in Europe.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Hitler supported the Nationalists from late July 1936.
2. [1] Germany sent transport planes so Franco could move his troops and equipment from Morocco to Spain.
3. [1] At the end of 1936, Hitler set up the Condor Legion, which was to assist Franco in Spain.
4. [1] Hitler's troops tried out new tactics.
5. [1] The Germans used carpet bombing such as at Guernica.
6. [1] Blitzkrieg tactics were used at the offensive on Bilbao.
7. [1] Hitler sent naval supplies.
8. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
9. [5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason (e.g. Taking control of Czechoslovakia was important to Hitler because he wanted to unite all German-speaking people into the Reich. There were three and a half million Germans living in the Sudetenland which was on the border with Germany. Therefore, Hitler wanted to take control of this area and make it part of the German Empire.)
10. [1] There were three and a half million Germans living in the Sudetenland.
11. [1] Hitler hated the Treaty of Versailles and wanted to destroy it.
12. [1] Czechoslovakia was allied with France and Russia.
13. [1] The Sudeten Germans had been complaining of discrimination by the Czech government.
14. [1] Czechoslovakia had valuable resources such as coal.
15. [1] Hitler wanted to expand his empire.
16. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how surprising' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)
17. [9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
18. [6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides (More detailed explanation of one issue to be given two marks.)
19. [3] It was surprising that Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement. They were leading members of the League of Nations, and you would expect them to uphold the Treaty of Versailles, yet they did nothing to stop him. They allowed Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles by remilitarising the Rhineland and achieving Anschluss with Austria.
20. [3] It is not surprising that Britain followed a policy of appeasement. Many British politicians thought the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany. Britain was happy that Hitler was only rightfully getting back what belonged to Germany. This is one reason why Britain did nothing to stop the remilitarisation of the Rhineland. Hitler resented the naval restrictions. In 1935 the Anglo-German Naval Treaty had shown Britain was prepared to negotiate with Germany, so it was no surprise they did the same with appeasement.
21. [3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes (One mark for each point)
22. [1] Britain and France were leading members of the League of Nations.
23. [1] Through appeasement they missed opportunities to stop Hitler.
24. [1] Britain and France allowed Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles.
25. [1] Britain and France lacked armed forces because their economies were weak.
26. [1] France was trying to avoid war.
27. [1] Britain thought the Treaty of Versailles had been harsh.
28. [1] The British government thought Hitler was a reasonable man.
29. [1] Britain did not have support for war from the Empire.
30. [1] France was concerned about antagonising Hitler.
31. [1] Germany was a defence against communism from Russia.
32. [1] Britain and France were not ready for war.