Germany faced challenges in the years following the First World War.

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. 'The Spartacists were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.'
2. [1-4] 'In January 1919, the Spartacists launched their bid for power.'
3. [1-4] 'It was a Communist rising against the Weimar Government.'
4. [1-4] ‘There were barricades in the street and armed street fighting.'
5. [1-4] 'They wanted a Germany ruled by workers' councils or soviets.'
6. [1-4] 'The leaders were executed by the Freikorps.'
7. [2-3] 'The French and Belgians occupied the Ruhr.'
8. [2-3] 'The German workers used 'passive resistance'.'
9. [2-3] 'Violence broke out and Germans were driven out of their homes.'
10. [2-3] ‘The German currency collapsed.'
11. [2-3] 'There was hyperinflation.'
12. [2-3] 'Savings were worthless.'
13. [4-5] e.g. 'In January 1923, the French and Belgians occupied the Ruhr because Germany had not paid the second instalment of their reparations. They decided to seize coal to the value of the money which they should have been paid. However, the German industrial workers refused to work. The German government encouraged passive resistance by the German workers, but violence broke out and the French drove 100 000 Germans out of the Ruhr region.'
14. [2-3] 'A loan through the Dawes Plan kick-started the economy.'
15. [2-3] 'Industry expanded, inflation fell, and exports increased.'
16. [2-3] 'The Young Plan reduced reparations to a third.'
17. [2-3] ‘The German economy relied on American loans.'
18. [2-3] 'Unemployment remained high.'
19. [2-3] 'Shopkeepers, farmers, small businesses still struggled.'
20. [4-6] e.g. 'Stresemann did restore Germany's strength because he ended hyperinflation and confidence returned with the introduction of a new currency which was stable because the USA was willing to give loans, such as through the Dawes Plan, to support it. This meant that the German economy could start to grow again. Germany was also allowed into the League of Nations in 1926 and this showed that Germany was recognised as a responsible member of the international community again.'
21. [4-6] OR e.g. 'Stresemann tried to restore Germany's strength but the benefits he brought were only temporary. There was an illusion that Germany's economic problems had been solved. However, economic prosperity depended largely on American loans and if these were withdrawn, there would be more difficulties. When the American economy collapsed in 1929, loans were called in and Germany faced ruin.'