CGS 2025 HIST PRELIM P2 QP+MS

Class: Register No: Name: CRESCENT GIRLS’ SCHOOL SECONDARY FOUR PRELIMINARY EXAM 2025 HISTORY Paper 2 Developments in the post-World War II world: The ________ Cold War and decolonisation in Southeast Asia, ________ 1940s – 1991 Additional Materials: Answer Paper 2174/02 21 August 2025 1 hour 50 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, register number and class in the spaces provided at the top of this page and on all separate sheets of paper used. Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a soft pencil for any rough working. Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. Write all answers on the writing paper provided. Start each question on a fresh page of the writing paper. At the end of the examination, submit Section A and Section B separately. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. ___________________________________________________________________ This document consists of 6 printed pages, including the cover page. [Turn Over

2 Section A: Source-Based Case Study Question 1 is for all candidates. Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 (a) Study Source A. Why was this source published after the Yalta Conference? Explain your answer. [5] (b) Study Sources B and C. How similar are these two sources as evidence of the USA relations with the USSR? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Sources D and E. How far does Source E prove Source D to be wrong about Soviet demands? Explain your answer. [6] (d) Study Source F. Does Source F make you surprised about decisions at Yalta? Explain your answer. [5] (e) Study all the sources. ‘The Soviet Union’s actions at Yalta contributed to the worsening of relations between the US A and Soviet Union.’ How far do these sources _support this view? Use the sources and your knowledge to explain your answer. [8]

3 Did the Soviet Union’s actions at Yalta contribute to the worsening relations between the USA and Soviet Union? Background Information Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. By 1945, the defeat of the Axis powers was imminent. As superpowers, the US A and the USSR had a stake in the preliminary discussions that covered key post -war matters. In February 1945, American President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin convened at Yalta, Crimea, to determine Europe’s post -WWII order. Recognising the imminent collapse of Germany, the leaders negotiated the partition and administration of territories formerly under German control. Despite the appearance of cooperation and compromise at Yalta, underlying disagreements surfaced. The wartime alliance seemed to fracture and would foresh adow the onset of ideological differences that would define the emerging Cold War. Did the Soviet Union’s actions at Yalta contribute to the worsening of relations between the USA and Soviet Union? Source A: A British cartoon published in early 1945, after the Yalta Conference. [Turn Over

4 Source B: A letter from Roosevelt to Stalin, April 1945. Since Normandy, we have already begun internal conversations about postwar Europe. At Yalta, over calculated and informed negotiations, we strategically came to a compromise together. Yet, there has been a discouraging lack of progress made on the part of your government in the carrying out of the agreed decisions. To prevent misinterpretation, I shall clarify my understanding of our agreement. We must grant the people of Poland the right to choose their form of government, and foreign interference is highl y discouraged. We should allow the Poles to take responsibility of the governance of their nation and we should not get involved in the selection of the potential Polish leaders. The American government will not veto any Polish candidate, and we hope that the USSR will do likewise. It is essential that the Polish question is addressed fairly, and I hope this is not too much to ask for. Source C: Adapted from an extract by a historian. At Yalta, the Soviet Union demonstrated a strong willingness to cooperate with the Allies by entering the war against Japan . Soviet participation was seen as vital in achieving victory in the Pacific and they would gain influence in Manchuria following Japan’s surrender. Initial reactions were celebratory, and many believed that the wartime cooperation would continue into the postwar period. However, Truman’s administration was worried about the potential Soviet threat to Western Europe and began to doubt Soviet genuineness for collaboration. Alarmed at the perceived lack of Soviet cooperation, the American public began to criticize Roosevelt . They believed that he had been bullied by the S oviets into giving up Eastern Europe at Yalta. This was despite the Soviets choosing to overlook their ideological differences and making substantial concessions like assisting the Allies in the Pacific and staying out of Greece.

5 Source D: A report by Ivan Maisky, a Soviet diplomat, February 1945. He was writing to the Politburo about the negotiations that took place at Yalta. Soviet Foreign Minister, Molotov, mentioned that only the Soviets have recognised the current Polish government. British Foreign Minister, Eden, responded that the 3 Allies had to come to an agreement on how the Polish leaders were selected. The Allies agreed that further discussion was required. Next, the West agreed that German war reparations should be considered carefully together with German disarmament. The West wanted to avoid having to pay to support Germany because of a Soviet request for reparations and they also framed it as a self-serving demand. Furthermore, the West pointed out that two Soviet objectives seemed to be contradictory – a desire to weaken German industry but simultaneously wanting Germany to keep paying regularly – without offering alternatives. Eden’s reply was uncooperative and focussed on reducing Western responsibility and limiting Soviet compensation. Source E: Stalin’s speech during the Yalta Conference, 6 February 1945. The issue of Poland is a question of security because the most important strategic problems of the Soviet state are connected to Poland. Not only is Poland a neighbouring country, throughout history, Poland has always been a corridor for an enemy attacking Russia. In the previous 30 years, the Germans twice went across Poland to attack Russia. Why had the enemies crossed Poland so easily until then? Chiefly because Poland has been weak. The Polish corridor could not be closed only by Russian forces on the outside. It could be reliably locked only from the inside, by Poland’s own forces.