GCE History A Y219/01: Russia 1894-1941 Advanced GCE Mark Scheme for Autumn 2021. Rated A+

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Question Answer Mark Guidance 1 (a) Which of the following had a greater impact on the collapse of the Provisional Government in November 1917? (i) The actions of Kerensky; (ii) The role of Trots... ky. Explain your answer with reference to both (i) and (ii). • In dealing with the actions of Kerensky, answers might argue that Kerensky’s decision to release the Bolsheviks from imprisonment and arm them during the Kornilov Uprising created the very force that would topple the Provisional Government in November 1917; • Answers might argue that Kerensky’s ‘July Offensive’ demonstrated both the Provisional Government’s determination to continue with an unpopular war and the army’s inability to win that war, weakening the provisional Government’s credibility; • Answers might argue that Kerensky’s decision to close down Bolshevik newspapers and arrest Bolshevik leaders left Lenin with little alternative but – or the pretext - to launch the action to destroy the Provisional Government; • Answers might refer to Kerensky’s relatively limited role in the earlier months of the Provisional Government; • Answers might consider Kerensky’s successful suppression of the July Days and Lenin’s departure for Finland as successfully prolonging the Provisional Government rather than engineering its collapse. • In dealing with the role of Trotsky, answers might argue that as Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, Trotsky was a leading focus of opposition to the Provisional Government in the weeks leading up to its collapse; • Answers might argue that Trotsky’s skills as an orator influenced the garrison of the Peter and Paul Fortress to 10 • No set answer is expected. • Judgement must be supported by relevant and accurate material. If not, mark as assertion. • Only credit material relevant to the collapse of the Provisional Government. • Answers may deal with each factor in turn, then compare them to reach a judgement, or may take a continually comparative approach. Either approach is acceptable. • Knowledge must not be credited in isolation, it should only be credited where it is used as the basis for analysis and evaluation, in line with the descriptions in the levels mark scheme.Y219/01 Mark Scheme October 2021 5 Question Answer Mark Guidance side with the Bolsheviks in November 1917, playing a key role in the downfall of the Provisional Government; • Answers might argue that Trotsky played a leading role in creating the means to topple the Provisional Government given his position leading the MRC and in the planning of the November Revolution itself; • Answers might refer to Trotsky’s imprisonment after the July Days and how this limited his influence over events in a crucial month; • Answers might consider that it was Lenin rather than Trotsky who made the final decision to launch the Revolution in November 1917 and without his influence over the Central Committee Trotsky’s contribution could not have been realised. 1 (b)* ‘The geographical advantages of the Reds were the most important reason for their victory in the Russian Civil War.’ How far do you agree? • In arguing geographical advantages of the Reds were the most important reason, answers might argue that the Bolsheviks controlled the key central regions of Russia, with the major cities and most of the population under their control and so were in a strong strategic position; • Answers might argue that the Bolsheviks also controlled Russia’s key railway lines, allowing them to reinforce Petrograd from Yudenich and defeat Kolchak and Denikin’s consecutive attacks; • Answers might argue that the key centres of military production and storage – such as Tula – were under Bolshevik control and gave the Red Army superior equipment and supplies; • Answers might argue that in comparison the White armies were scattered and in unfavourable areas – such as Kolchak in Siberia and Miller in the far North – giving the Bolsheviks a key advantage; 20 • No set answer is expected. • At higher levels candidates will focus on “how far” but at Level 4 may simply list reasons. • At Level 5 and above there will be judgement as to the level of extent. • At higher levels candidates might establish criteria against which to measure relative importance. • To be valid judgements, claims must be supported by relevant and accurate material. If not they are assertions. • Knowledge must not be credited in isolation, it should only be credited where it is used as the basis for analysis and evaluation, in line with descriptions in the levels mark scheme.Y219/01 Mark Scheme October 2021 6 Question Answer Mark Guidance • Answers might argue that Bolshevik appeals to patriotism were more effective as they controlled most of Great Russia whereas the Whites fought in areas that mostly contained national minorities. • In arguing other factors were more important, answers might argue that Trotsky’s Red Army reforms created a more effective and efficient fighting force by reintroducing rank and harsh discipline whereas White forces often melted away; • Answers might argue that White disunity was a major reason for red success; groups like the Komuch refused to accept Kolchak’s leadership and Kolchak and Denikin failed to coordinate their attacks; • Answers might argue that Red propaganda and terror – such as agitprop trains and Political Commissars - were crucial tools in ensuring the Red Army was a more effective fighting force; • Answers might argue that the intervention of foreign powers worked against the Whites, since it was insufficient to be decisive and allowed the Reds to portray themselves as defending Russia from foreign invasion; • Answers might argue that compared to the differing aims, policies and atrocities of the Whites, the Reds had a simpler and more popular agenda and so suffered less from desertions and poor morale.Y219/01 Mark Scheme October 2021 7 Question Answer Mark Guidance 2 (a) Which of the following was a greater threat to the Bolsheviks by 1921? (i) Resentment towards ‘war communism’ (ii) The Kronstadt Rising Explain your answer with reference to both (i) and (ii). • In dealing with resentment towards War Communism, answers might argue that the harsh discipline and long working hours introduced by War Communism saw Bolshevik support in the cities decline rapidly; a major threat since most Bolshevik popularity lay in urban areas; • Answers might argue that peasants retaliating to the forced requisition of grain by not planting crops had led to widespread famine by 1921 that led to the deaths of millions and caused widespread resent towards the Bolsheviks; • Answers might argue that the harsh Bolshevik response to peasant resistance during War Communism led to widespread rural unrest like the Tambov uprising which took months to suppress; • Answers might refer to War Communism having been a necessary measure to ensure the survival of the Bolsheviks by maintaining grain supplies to the army and cities; • Answers might consider that the widespread use of terror by the Cheka and Red Army was able to control much of the resentment to War Communism and so reduce its threat. • In dealing with the Kronstadt Rising, answers might argue that coming as it did from demands issued by workers it was a threat to the Bolsheviks as it showed discontent from their natural supporters; [Show More]

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