HISTORY EXAM 2024 UPDATED LATEST PREDICTED
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS BY EXPERT
What made the wartime alliance breakdown after the end of ww2?
ideological differences, escalation of hostilities and key people, and developments
Why was USSR and USA superpowers?
large populations, hence armies. Geographically due to location and materials. Huge
arsenals of nuclear weapons. No enemies but themselves after WW2.
What did stability in post-war world depend on?
relationship between superpowers
What happened in October 1917?
Bolsheviks seized power in Russia
Who led them?
V.I. Lenin
Why did this worry the capitalist democracies?
they believed in communism and wanted to destroy capitalist system
Differences: Political system in capitalism.
Free and regular elections, people vote for candidates
In communism:
If elections are held, no choice but the same communist party.
Capitalist media:
Freedom of press and speech protected. Free to disagree with political system.
Communist media:
No freedom of speech. Media only allowed to print what government allow it too.
Capitalist wealth:
Industries private owned and can keep own profits.
Communism wealth:
All industry state owned. Profit is all given to government
,Who helped the 'Whites' during the civil war in 1917 Russia?
Britain, France, Japan and USA
What did Britain refuse to recognise until 1924?
Communist regime as Russian government
When did USA refuse to recognise the government until?
1933
During the 1930s who did Britain and France refuse to sign an alliance with? And
who against?
Russia against Nazi germany
Who succeeded Lenin as leader of Russia?
Joseph Stalin
What was Russia called?
Soviet Union or USSR
What was Stalin well aware of?
West's hostility towards communism
What did he do in response?
Series of five year plans
What would they target?
target ensuring a Soviet economy ready for fighting a war
What did he do with Hitler in August 1939 after the West's non interest?
signed a non-aggression pact
What did this mean?
USSR didn't go to war a month later with Nazis. As they were not ready.
When the Nazis invaded USSR, who did USSR align with?
The Allies
How did the Soviet suffer during the invasion?
20 million death in their home ground
What angered Stalin about this?
USA and Britain ignored he pleas to open up a second front to distract Nazis until D-day
1944.
Why was he suspicious of this?
,Believed D-day was delayed so communism and Nazism would destroy each other
How did Winston Churchill react when the Soviets began forcing them back into
Germany?
alarmed and wanted to invade into Germany sooner.
Why did this not happen?
Roosevelt's trust with Stalin, shared need to defeat Hitler.
When was Yalta conference?
February 1945
What did Churchill want to ensure?
survival of British empire
What did he see USSR as?
a danger to the west and needed to be stopped
What did he see the Soviet army pushing Nazis back into Europe as?
Gaining control in countries such as Poland and Hungary
What did Roosevelt think about British opinion?
not keen on revival of British empire.
What did he want to establish?
United nations which would create a free world
What did he want to happen in accords to Stalin and USSR?
wanted USSR to join and work with Stalin
What did Stalin want to create and why?
Buffer zone between Western Europe and USSR to protect from any more attack
What did he want the countries in the zone to be?
friendly to USSR and have communist governments
Key decisions reached: Berlin and Germany:
to be split into four zones, each one ruled by USSR, USA, Britain and France.
What would Germany pay?
reparation
What was established to keep the peace?
United Nations
What happens in regard to Japan?
, USSR declare war on them in August 1945, three months after Germany's surrender
What happens to Poland?
New borders, although no agreement on what government it would have
What was agree in terms of a buffer zone?
Eastern europe under control of USSR. Democratic elections in countries to decide own
governements.
When was Potsdam?
July 1945
What leaders were present?
Winston Churchill until his party is voted out and Clement Attlee takes over, Stalin and
new president of American after Roosevelt died in April, Harry Truman.
Key changes since Yalta:
Hitler is dead. War ended in May, Plans made for US soldiers to return home.
Where was the Soviet troops?
spread across Eastern Europe
What was Truman's opinions?
Didn't like Stalin and was suspicious of aims
What did his advisors tell him to do?
take a harsh line in accord to Stalin
How was US and UK's attitudes changing towards USSR?
hardening as they watched Germany's being stripped of resources. Saw puppet govs in
the countries in Eastern Europe.
What agreements were reached? Zones in Germany:
Four. Each power allowed to take reparations from own zones with level agreed. USSR
could also take from USA and UK in return for supplies.
Austria:
How it would be divided and occupied
Germany and Poland:
Border between changed, now on river Oder, natural border. German territory east now
all Poland and any Germans living there would have to move.
USSR and Poland:
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS BY EXPERT
What made the wartime alliance breakdown after the end of ww2?
ideological differences, escalation of hostilities and key people, and developments
Why was USSR and USA superpowers?
large populations, hence armies. Geographically due to location and materials. Huge
arsenals of nuclear weapons. No enemies but themselves after WW2.
What did stability in post-war world depend on?
relationship between superpowers
What happened in October 1917?
Bolsheviks seized power in Russia
Who led them?
V.I. Lenin
Why did this worry the capitalist democracies?
they believed in communism and wanted to destroy capitalist system
Differences: Political system in capitalism.
Free and regular elections, people vote for candidates
In communism:
If elections are held, no choice but the same communist party.
Capitalist media:
Freedom of press and speech protected. Free to disagree with political system.
Communist media:
No freedom of speech. Media only allowed to print what government allow it too.
Capitalist wealth:
Industries private owned and can keep own profits.
Communism wealth:
All industry state owned. Profit is all given to government
,Who helped the 'Whites' during the civil war in 1917 Russia?
Britain, France, Japan and USA
What did Britain refuse to recognise until 1924?
Communist regime as Russian government
When did USA refuse to recognise the government until?
1933
During the 1930s who did Britain and France refuse to sign an alliance with? And
who against?
Russia against Nazi germany
Who succeeded Lenin as leader of Russia?
Joseph Stalin
What was Russia called?
Soviet Union or USSR
What was Stalin well aware of?
West's hostility towards communism
What did he do in response?
Series of five year plans
What would they target?
target ensuring a Soviet economy ready for fighting a war
What did he do with Hitler in August 1939 after the West's non interest?
signed a non-aggression pact
What did this mean?
USSR didn't go to war a month later with Nazis. As they were not ready.
When the Nazis invaded USSR, who did USSR align with?
The Allies
How did the Soviet suffer during the invasion?
20 million death in their home ground
What angered Stalin about this?
USA and Britain ignored he pleas to open up a second front to distract Nazis until D-day
1944.
Why was he suspicious of this?
,Believed D-day was delayed so communism and Nazism would destroy each other
How did Winston Churchill react when the Soviets began forcing them back into
Germany?
alarmed and wanted to invade into Germany sooner.
Why did this not happen?
Roosevelt's trust with Stalin, shared need to defeat Hitler.
When was Yalta conference?
February 1945
What did Churchill want to ensure?
survival of British empire
What did he see USSR as?
a danger to the west and needed to be stopped
What did he see the Soviet army pushing Nazis back into Europe as?
Gaining control in countries such as Poland and Hungary
What did Roosevelt think about British opinion?
not keen on revival of British empire.
What did he want to establish?
United nations which would create a free world
What did he want to happen in accords to Stalin and USSR?
wanted USSR to join and work with Stalin
What did Stalin want to create and why?
Buffer zone between Western Europe and USSR to protect from any more attack
What did he want the countries in the zone to be?
friendly to USSR and have communist governments
Key decisions reached: Berlin and Germany:
to be split into four zones, each one ruled by USSR, USA, Britain and France.
What would Germany pay?
reparation
What was established to keep the peace?
United Nations
What happens in regard to Japan?
, USSR declare war on them in August 1945, three months after Germany's surrender
What happens to Poland?
New borders, although no agreement on what government it would have
What was agree in terms of a buffer zone?
Eastern europe under control of USSR. Democratic elections in countries to decide own
governements.
When was Potsdam?
July 1945
What leaders were present?
Winston Churchill until his party is voted out and Clement Attlee takes over, Stalin and
new president of American after Roosevelt died in April, Harry Truman.
Key changes since Yalta:
Hitler is dead. War ended in May, Plans made for US soldiers to return home.
Where was the Soviet troops?
spread across Eastern Europe
What was Truman's opinions?
Didn't like Stalin and was suspicious of aims
What did his advisors tell him to do?
take a harsh line in accord to Stalin
How was US and UK's attitudes changing towards USSR?
hardening as they watched Germany's being stripped of resources. Saw puppet govs in
the countries in Eastern Europe.
What agreements were reached? Zones in Germany:
Four. Each power allowed to take reparations from own zones with level agreed. USSR
could also take from USA and UK in return for supplies.
Austria:
How it would be divided and occupied
Germany and Poland:
Border between changed, now on river Oder, natural border. German territory east now
all Poland and any Germans living there would have to move.
USSR and Poland:
