Option B: Twentieth century topic WAS GERMANY TREATED UNFAIRLY IN THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES? Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. Study Sources A and B. How far do these two sources agree? Explain your answer using details of the sources.

Mark scheme

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

1. [6-7] Level 4: Agreement and disagreement of detail or sub-messages
2. [3-5] Level 3: Agreement or disagreement of detail or sub-messages
3. Agreements: Germany did not like the Treaty. The British thought it was too harsh/British were sympathetic towards Germany. Germany came out of it stronger. Germany lost territory. It was not the terms that were the real problem. The Treaty was not too harsh/it was fair/Germany was not harmed.
4. Disagreements: Source A claims Germany was made stronger by splintering of the Austrian and Russian empires, but Source B says it was made stronger by the creation of Poland. Source A claims it had flaws, but Source B implies it was as good as could be achieved. In Source A the real problem for Germany was the atmosphere in which the Treaty was presented while in Source B the real problem for Germany was the defeat. In Source A the Treaty doesn't last because it contained contradictions/was too harsh for the British, while in Source B it was because of European statesmen. In Source A the treaties are to blame for no lasting settlement (because of contradictions), in Source B they cannot be blamed for no lasting peace.
5. [2] Level 2: Identifies information that is in one source but not in the other or states that the sources are about the same subject OR Compares the provenance of the sources
6. [1] Level 1: Writes about the sources but makes no valid comparison
7. [0] Level 0: No evidence submitted, or response does not address the question