AHS 2025 H(E) QP+MS

Section A (Source-Based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates Study the background information and all 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. What can you learn from Source A about the policy of appeasement? Explain your answer. [5] (b) Study Source B. Why was this cartoon published in 1938? Explain your answer. [5] (c) Study Source C. How reliable is this source about Hitler’s intentions? Explain your answer. [6] (d) Study Sources D and E. How far does Source D prove that Source E is accurate about the policy of appeasement? [6] (e) Study all the sources. “The policy of appeasement was justified.” How far do the sources support this view? Use the sources and knowledge to explain your answer. [8] © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2261/02/S4/PreliminaryExamination/2025

2 © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2261/02/S4/PreliminaryExamination/2025

3 Was the policy of appeasement justified? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. While Hitler’s aggressive foreign policy was one of the main causes of the outbreak of World War Two in Europe, the policy of appeasement adopted by the Allies proved to have been equally instrumental in aiding Hitler to become more aggressive, thus setting the stage for war. The policy can be traced back to 1935, when Hitler came to power and made open his plans for conscription and rearmament. The Allies allowed Hitler to get away with his violations of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, remilitarising Rhineland and Anschluss with Austria. Was the policy of appeasement by the Allies justified? Source A: A secret note from General Ismay to the British Cabinet sent on 20th September 1938. Ismay was the high ranking general in charge of the defence of Britain. A German absorption of Czechoslovakia will enhance her military prestige, increase her war potential and position stronger land forces against France and us than she can do at present. Where air power is concerned, if we make the necessary effort to catch up to Germany, we shall be able to provide a strong deterrent against Germany making the attempt to invade our home island. Therefore, if war with Germany has to come, it would be better to fight her a year from now, rather than to accept the present challenge. © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2261/02/S4/PreliminaryExamination/2025

4 Source B: An American cartoon published shortly after the Munich Agreement was signed in 1938. Source C: Adapted from an extract of a speech by Hitler to the Reichstag in May 1935. What we want lies clear before us: not war and not strife. Nobody in Germany wants war. Moreover, nobody here will take any step to cause war. We have, of course, a deep and constant sympathy with those of our own blood beyond our boundaries, but we cannot make war on their behalf. Europe will be devastated by a modern war waged between nations. Germany has one great task which is to safeguard peace. Just as we wish not to be conquered, so we do not wish to conquer others. We have quite enough to do to build up an orderly, just and happy life for our own people. © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2261/02/S4/PreliminaryExamination/2025

5 Source D: An extract from a speech by Winston Churchill, who is of the same party as Chamberlain, in 1939. For the policy (of appeasement) to succeed, it would require Britain to declare that she would defend Czechoslovakia against an unprovoked aggression. But the Government refused to give that guarantee when it would have saved the situation, yet they gave it when it was too late, and now, they have not the slightest power to make it good. If Herr Hitler does not make war, there will be no war. No one else is going to make war. Britain and France are determined to shed no blood except in self-defense or in defense of their Allies. No one has ever dreamed of attacking Germany. If Germany desires to be reassured against attack by her neighbours, she has only to say the word and we will give her the fullest guarantees. Source E: A letter written by a World War I veteran published in a British newspaper on 4 th October, 1938. I appreciate the Prime Minister’s love of peace. I know the horrors of war – a great deal better than he can. But it is disturbing to see him return from saving our skins from a blackmailer at the expense of others, and proudly waving a piece of paper with Herr Hitler’s name on it. No doubt he has never read Mein Kampf in German. But to forget, so utterly, the Reichstag fire, and the occupation of the Rhineland, and 30 June 1934 (the Night of the Long Knives), and the fall of Austria! We have lost the courage to see things as they are. Source F: An extract from a history journal on appeasement, published in 2005. Conquering Czechoslovakia was never going to be easy. The state possessed a large, well-equipped military and had heavily fortifications all along its borders. Second, Germany could barely muster ten divisions to defend its own borders should France come to the aid of Czechoslovakia. Finally, Germany's economic situation was in a dire state. The Germans had serious shortages of rubber, iron, copper, and had no foreign reserves or gold. Yet, Britain and France continued their indecisiveness. Britain was facing increasing strains on its empire and feared the costs of engaging in another war. France was wrought with internal divisions and would not foray into war without the British. Rearmament programmes had barely begun, and troops remained in reserves. © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2261/02/S4/PreliminaryExamination/2025

6 Section B: Essays Answer two questions. 2 “The Nazis were able to control Germany because of the use of fear.” How far you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 3 “The over-extended Japanese empire led to Japan losing the war in Asia Pacific”. How far you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 4 “The Communists were responsible for the outbreak of the Korean War.” How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] - End of Paper – Copyright Acknowledgements: Source A: https://mycandles.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-anti-fascist-cartoons-of-david-low.html Source B: ht