For most of the First World War there was little movement.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1] There were limited washing facilities and there was much disease.
2. [1] Many soldiers suffered from trench foot caused by the mud, and wet and damp conditions.
3. [1] There were many rats in the trenches because of the dead bodies.
4. [1] In winter, soldiers suffered from frostbite.
5. [1] The constant shelling led to shell shock.
6. [1] In between the major battles it was often very boring in the trenches.
7. [6] Tanks were important in the First World War as they provided a solution to the deadlock of trench warfare. They could cross No Man's Land, navigate barbed wire, and withstand machine gun fire, clearing a path for infantry to advance. This innovation allowed breakthroughs in heavily fortified enemy lines, as demonstrated at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, and proved crucial in Allied counter-attacks in 1918.
8. [1] They could smash through barbed wire.
9. [1] They could cross No Man's Land.
10. [1] When they were first used the Germans were scared by the sight of them.
11. [1] They made a breakthrough in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917.
12. [1] They were crucial in the Allied counter-attacks in 1918.
13. [10] The Battle of Verdun was more important than the Battle of the Somme. Verdun was a crucial part of French defences; a German breakthrough there would have been devastating. Germany aimed to draw French and British troops to Verdun to weaken other fronts. Despite intense German pressure, the French bravely defended Verdun successfully, significantly boosting French morale. It also demonstrated the immense difficulty of attacking heavily fortified positions, deterring further major German attacks until 1918. OR The Battle of the Somme was more important. It involved a huge British offensive aimed at breaking the German lines and ending the war, though it failed to achieve this. However, it did relieve pressure on Verdun by forcing Germany to divert troops to the Somme front, helping the French hold out. The Somme was also important for revealing the immense human cost of the war, with over a million casualties, and demonstrating that a quick breakthrough was impossible, signaling that the war would be prolonged.
14. [1] The defence of Verdun improved French morale.
15. [1] Verdun prevented a German victory in the war.
16. [1] Verdun was a crucial part of the French defences.
17. [1] The Somme forced the Germans to take troops away from Verdun.
18. [1] The Somme was more important because there were over a million casualties.
19. [1] The Somme showed that neither side was going to make a quick breakthrough.
20. [1] The Somme meant that both sides moved behind strong defensive positions and were prepared for a long war.
21. [1] The Somme showed that tanks were not very effective.