SECTION B: DEPTH STUDIES. Depth study C: Russia, 1905–41. Stalin's policies changed Soviet society and the economy.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] The first Five-Year plan aimed to increase production in heavy industry.
2. [1] The aim was to catch up with western countries.
3. [1] The plans aimed to increase electricity production.
4. [1] New plants such as Magnitogorsk were built to industrialise Russia.
5. [1] Steel and coal production were to be increased in the First Five-Year Plan.
6. [1] The Second Five-Year Plan aimed to increase production in the chemical industry.
7. [1] It also aimed to increase railway links between cities.
8. [1] The Third Five-Year Plan was focused on rearmament.
9. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
10. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason. Four marks for one explanation, five marks for explanation supported by specific contextual knowledge.
11. [4] Central planning was important because targets were set for each industry and in each region. These targets were given to regional directors. This meant there was central control over how much was being produced and that made it possible to ensure Russia had enough coal and electricity to ensure development.
12. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
13. [1] Overall targets for an industry were set centrally and given to regional directors.
14. [1] Heavy industries such as coal and iron were important to Russia's development.
15. [1] Investment in industry was centrally controlled.
16. [1] Each region of the USSR was given production targets.
17. [1] The region set targets for each mine or factory.
18. [1] It was possible to check output against targets to see where improvements were needed.
19. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
20. [1] GOSPLAN was the state economic planning organisation.
21. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks
22. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'. One explanation or more on each side.
23. [10] Although Russification was not always successful in persuading people to abandon their traditional language or culture, Stalin had other ways of suppressing them which meant that he was not challenged. Large numbers were deported during collectivisation and many others from minority groups died in the famine in the 1930s.
24. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides. For candidates to be awarded this level they must have one explanation on each side; one additional mark for each additional explanation on either side.
25. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side. One Level 3 mark for each explanation.
26. [4] In some ways Russification was a success for Stalin. He removed millions of people from ethnic minority groups from Russia, for example deporting Ukrainian kulaks to Kazakhstan during collectivisation. That meant Stalin was able to control the areas they left and appoint his own people to positions of power there.
27. [4] In some ways the policy was not a success. Many minority groups refused to give up their own language and culture and Stalin resorted to purges against members of minority groups who were in positions of power. In rural areas the policy was less effective and people retained their own traditions.
28. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
29. [1] Stalin discouraged differing national identities within Russia.
30. [1] Ethnic minority groups were encouraged to see themselves as Soviet citizens rather than separate nationalities.
31. [1] The Russian language was made a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.
32. [1] Russian was made the official language of state organisations such as the army.
33. [1] Russians were encouraged to migrate into non-Russian areas.
34. [1] Thousands of Islamic schools, hospitals and mosques were forced to close.
35. [1] 1.5 million people from ethnic minorities were deported to Asia.
36. [1] Many minority groups refused to give up their language.
37. [1] Russification was less successful in rural areas.
38. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
39. [1] Stalin was suspicious of minority groups and so introduced Russification.
40. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks