AQA AS HISTORY The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991 Component 1L Empire to
democracy, 1871–1929 MAY 2023 QP
AS
HISTORY
The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991 Component
1L Empire to democracy, 1871–1929
Wednesday 17 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/1L.
• Answer two questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 50 minutes on Section A
– 40 minutes on Section B.
, 2
IB/M/Jun23/E3 7041/1L
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s power and influence were considerable in the years 1890 to 1914. He
was obsessed with the army and navy, and pushed through his favourite projects of
military expansion. Most important of all, he paid considerable attention to key
appointments. Bülow and Tirpitz were the Kaiser’s men, essential components of his
personal rule. Careers depended on royal favour, which encouraged an atmosphere of 5
exaggerated flattery at court and a grovelling quest for the favour of the Kaiser. His reign
was, therefore, a period of personal rule, which set the tone of the age. It is not for
nothing that this period is called the ‘Wilhelmine era’.
Adapted from M Kitchen, A History of Modern Germany, 2012
Extract B
After Bismarck’s dismissal, there was no longer anyone capable of holding the German
political system together. At first, Wilhelm II tried to be both emperor and chancellor in
one, but this did not succeed for any length of time. There was no consistent authority at
the top of the structure of power and there existed in Germany a permanent crisis of state,
as different individuals and groups sought to influence government policy. It was this 5
absence of clear leadership that caused the inconsistent course followed by German
politics up until 1914. Although Wilhelm stressed, in emotional language, his exaggerated
view of the emperor’s role, he had all along merely played the part of a ‘shadow emperor’.
Adapted from HU Wehler, The German Empire 1871–1918, 1997
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of the rule of
Kaiser Wilhelm II in the years 1890 to 1914?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun23/7041/1
L
democracy, 1871–1929 MAY 2023 QP
AS
HISTORY
The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991 Component
1L Empire to democracy, 1871–1929
Wednesday 17 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/1L.
• Answer two questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 50 minutes on Section A
– 40 minutes on Section B.
, 2
IB/M/Jun23/E3 7041/1L
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s power and influence were considerable in the years 1890 to 1914. He
was obsessed with the army and navy, and pushed through his favourite projects of
military expansion. Most important of all, he paid considerable attention to key
appointments. Bülow and Tirpitz were the Kaiser’s men, essential components of his
personal rule. Careers depended on royal favour, which encouraged an atmosphere of 5
exaggerated flattery at court and a grovelling quest for the favour of the Kaiser. His reign
was, therefore, a period of personal rule, which set the tone of the age. It is not for
nothing that this period is called the ‘Wilhelmine era’.
Adapted from M Kitchen, A History of Modern Germany, 2012
Extract B
After Bismarck’s dismissal, there was no longer anyone capable of holding the German
political system together. At first, Wilhelm II tried to be both emperor and chancellor in
one, but this did not succeed for any length of time. There was no consistent authority at
the top of the structure of power and there existed in Germany a permanent crisis of state,
as different individuals and groups sought to influence government policy. It was this 5
absence of clear leadership that caused the inconsistent course followed by German
politics up until 1914. Although Wilhelm stressed, in emotional language, his exaggerated
view of the emperor’s role, he had all along merely played the part of a ‘shadow emperor’.
Adapted from HU Wehler, The German Empire 1871–1918, 1997
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of the rule of
Kaiser Wilhelm II in the years 1890 to 1914?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun23/7041/1
L
