Tensions in Europe grew worse in the years before 1914.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1-4] e.g. 'Germany wanted colonies.'
2. [1-4] 'Germany was trying to catch up with other European countries, which had colonies.'
3. [1-4] 'The Kaiser followed a policy of Weltpolitik.'
4. [1-4] 'Germany thought that to become a great power it had to have colonies.'
5. [1-4] 'Germany acquired the Pacific Ocean colonies.'
6. [1-4] 'In 1904 Germany brutally put down a rebellion by Herero tribes in South West Africa.'
7. [1-4] 'The Herero were put in concentration camps.'
8. [1-4] 'The Herero were used as slave labour.'
9. [1-4] 'Germany put a lot of work into developing Togoland.'
10. [1-4] 'Germany tried to undermine French influence in the First Moroccan Crisis of 1905-06.'
11. [1-4] 'After the Second Moroccan Crisis, Germany was given the colony of Middle Congo.'
12. [4-5] e.g. 'Events in the Balkans were important because of their impact on the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan League attacked the Ottoman Empire because its members wanted independence from the Empire. The Ottoman Empire was defeated and lost much of its European territory. It also ended Ottoman rule in much of the Balkan peninsula. All of this was important because it led to the sharp decline of the Ottoman Empire. As it was isolated and in trouble, it allied with Germany in the First World War.'
13. [2-3] e.g. 'They were a disaster for the Ottoman Empire which lost lots of its territory in Europe.'
14. [2-3] 'They were important because a stronger Serbia emerged.'
15. [2-3] 'Serbia had ambitions to create a Greater Serbia.'
16. [2-3] 'These events were important because they led to tension between Serbia and Austria.'
17. [2-3] 'These events were important because Russia was left with just Serbia as an ally against Austria.'
18. [2-3] 'This meant Russia had to support Serbia against Austria in 1914.'
19. [2-3] 'These events were important because they led to Bulgaria looking to Austria for support.'
20. [2-3] 'These events created a very unstable situation in the Balkans.'
21. [2-3] 'These events contributed to the start of World War 1.'
22. [4-6] e.g. 'I do not agree that Germany was reluctant to go to war. I think it wanted to become a superpower and knew that it would have to defeat Russia and France to achieve this. This can be seen by its Schlieffen Plan which it hoped would allow it to knock out France quickly before Russia could mobilise. When the Archduke's assassination took place, Germany encouraged Austria to provoke Serbia into war. This gave Germany the excuse to launch the war.'
23. [4-6] OR e.g. 'I think Germany was reluctant to go to war. This can be seen by the fact that the decisive event was Russia mobilising. At this stage Germany was not preparing for war. Russia was determined to use the crisis over the assassination to attack Austria. Germany was even trying to mediate between Austria and Serbia. Russian mobilisation changed everything and Germany had to mobilise because of the threat from Russia. In this way, Germany was dragged into war.'
24. [2-3] e.g. 'The Schlieffen Plan shows that Germany was keen on war.'
25. [2-3] 'Germany gave Austria the 'blank cheque' and this shows it was keen on war.'
26. [2-3] 'Germany wanted to be a world power and was determined to defeat Russia and France.'
27. [2-3] 'Germany was forced into war by the Russian mobilisation.'
28. [2-3] 'Germany was keen to go to war as is shown by the fact that it declared war on Belgium.'
29. [2-3] 'Germany was dragged into war by Austria's actions.'
30. [2-3] 'Germany was not keen on a war because it was not sure what position Britain would take.'