O-LevelHistoryDepth studies2147/12 · Oct/Nov 2022 · Q920 Marks

Soldiers faced many hardships in the fighting on the Western Front.

(a)Describe 'going over the top'.[4]
(b)Why did the Allied bombardment at the start of the Battle of the Somme fail to destroy the German defences?[6]
(c)How far do you agree that tanks were used to better effect than aircraft in the First World War? Explain your answer.[10]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] The attacking infantry rose out of their trenches.
[1] They had to climb over the parapet of their trench.
[1] This enabled them to get into no man's land to attack the enemy.
[1] It meant leaving the safety of their trench.
[1] Machine guns were used to repel soldiers going over the top.
[1] It generally sustained heavy losses.
[1] The barbed wire was not fully destroyed.
[1] The German trenches were not destroyed.
[1] The Germans knew the attack was coming.
[1] German defences were stronger than thought.
[Level 3/4 explanation example] The plans failed to clear no man's land of barbed wire and so it was difficult to advance at speed. The shelling which took place for 7 days before the attack did not destroy the barbed wire as hoped and so the soldiers got caught in the tangled barbed wire and were easy targets for the German soldiers.
[1] Early tanks broke down or got stuck in the mud.
[1] At first, the soldiers moved more quickly than the tanks and so weren't protected by them.
[1] By 1918, tanks were used to better effect such as at Amiens.
[1] Aircraft were useful for observation.
[1] There were dog fights between flying aces.
[1] Aircraft made little difference to the fighting on the Western Front.
[1] Tanks had a psychological effect on the enemy.
[Level 3 explanation example - Tanks better] Although early tanks broke down and often did not get across no man's land, later tanks became more reliable and quicker. When used in large numbers such as at Amiens and Cambrai, the German lines could be breached.
[Level 3 explanation example - Aircraft better] Aircraft were useful to some extent. They were used for observation and reconnaissance and observed battle positions and the movement of troops behind the enemy lines. However, they were not especially useful in fighting the war.