The USA and USSR had different aims in Europe after 1945.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] e.g. 'All supply lines to West Berlin were blocked by Stalin.'
2. [1-4] 'The gas and electricity supplies were cut off.'
3. [1-4] 'The Blockade began in June 1948 and ended in May 1949.'
4. [1-4] 'West Berlin was cut off from the rest of Western Germany.'
5. [1-4] 'Britain, the United States and France organised an airlift.'
6. [1-4] 'Food and fuel were airlifted.'
7. [2-3] 'Stalin thought the USSR would be more secure if Poland had a friendly government.'
8. [2-3] 'Stalin felt Poland was in the Soviet 'sphere of influence'.'
9. [2-3] 'Stalin wanted a barrier between the West and the USSR.'
10. [2-3] 'Stalin wanted the border of the USSR to move westwards towards Germany and into Poland.'
11. [4-5] e.g. 'Stalin wanted to control the government of Poland as he wanted to ensure the Soviet Union would not be attacked from the West again. In 1941, Hitler had attacked the USSR through Poland and Stalin wanted to make sure this could not happen again. Therefore, he was determined to make sure the government of Poland would be loyal to the USSR.'
12. [2-3] '16 nations benefited from Marshall Aid.'
13. [2-3] 'Western Europe was economically very weak at the end of the Second World War.'
14. [2-3] ‘There was fear that communism would become stronger in these circumstances.'
15. [2-3] 'Truman wanted to strengthen Europe against the USSR.'
16. [2-3] 'American businesses benefited from closer links with Europe.'
17. [2-3] 'European countries bought American goods and allowed USA investment in their industries.'
18. [4-6] e.g. 'Although Marshall Aid was an expensive policy for the USA, the programme helped the Americans in several ways. Truman was keen to contain communism, and strengthening Western Europe meant that the spread of communism was contained.'
19. [4-6] OR e.g. 'Marshall Aid brought great benefits to Western European nations. Many nations, such as France and Italy, faced severe food shortages after the Second World War. Marshall Aid gave financial support to 16 European countries and this helped them to stabilise their economies and remain free from communist control.'