IB World Topics HL History
Route 2
Paper 1 Exam
Prescribed Subject 3: Move to Global War
Source Booklet
Instructions to Candidates:
- DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION SOURCE BOOKLET UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
- This booklet contains all of the sources required for PAPER 1.
- You will have a 10 minute reading period.
Sources in this booklet have been edited; word additions or explanations are shown in square brackets [ ]; substantive deletions of text are indicated by ellipses ….; minor changes are not indicated.
PRESCRIBED SUBJECT 3: MOVE TO GLOBAL WAR
These sources relate to Invasion of Poland and German Aggression 1920-1939.
Source A: Germany’s reply to the British ultimatum received at 11:20 am, 3 September 1939.
The German Government and the German people refuse to receive, accept, let alone fulfill, demands in the ultimatum made by the British government.
- On our eastern frontier there has been for many months already reigned a condition of war. Since the time when Versailles Treaty first tore Germany to pieces, all and every peaceful settlement was refused to all German Governments. The National Socialist Government also has since the year 1933 tried again and again to remove by peaceful negotiations the worst … breaches of justice of this treaty. The British Government have been among those who, by their intransigent attitude, took the chief part in frustrating every practical revision. Without the intervention of the British Government … a reasonable solution doing justice to both sides would certainly have been found between Germany and Poland. For Germany did not have intention nor had she raise the demands of annihilating Poland. The Reich demanded only the revision of those articles of the Versailles Treaty which already at the time of formulation of the Diktat had been described by understanding statesmen of all nations as being in the long run unbearable, and therefore impossible for a great nation and also for the entire political and economic interests of Eastern Europe … The blame for having prevented this peaceful revision lies with the British Cabinet policy …
- The German people and their Government do not, like Britain, intend to dominate the world, but they are determined to defend their own liberty, their independence, and above all their life … we shall therefore answer any aggressive action on the part of England with the same weapons and in the same form.
Source B: A cartoon by David Low published in the UK newspaper, The Evening Standard, on 21 October 1939.
Source C: Hitler’s speech to his commanders-in chief, 22 August 1939.
I have called you together to give a picture of the political situation, in order that you may have some insight into the individual factors on which I have based my decision to act and in order to strengthen your confidence …
It is easy for us to make decisions. We have nothing to lose, we have everything to gain … Our economic situation is such that we cannot hold our more than a few more years … We have no other choice, we must act. Our opponents will be risking a great deal and can gain only a little. Britain’s stake in a war is inconceivably great. Our enemies have leaders who are below average. No personalities. No masters, no men of action …
The relationship with Poland has become unbearable … My proposals to Poland were frustrated by England’s intervention. Poland has changed her tone toward us. A permanent state of initiative cannot be allowed to pass to others … The probability is still great that the West will not intervene. We must take the risk with ruthless determination … Special reasons fortify me in my view. England and France have undertaken obligations which neither is in a position to fulfill … The West has only two possibilities for fighting against us: 1. Blockade; it will not be effective because of our autarky and because we have sources of supply in Eastern Europe. 2. Attack in the West from the Maginot Line: I consider this impossible.
Source D:Hitler’s speech to Nazi Party leaders at Obersalzberg on 22 August 1939.
Our strength lies in our quickness and in our brutality; Genghis Khan sent millions of women and children to death knowingly and with a light heart. History sees in him only the great founder of States. I have given the command and I shall shoot everyone who utters one word of criticism. And so for the present only in the East I have put my death-head formations in place with the command relentlessly and without compassion to send into death many women and children of Polish origin and language. Only thus we can gain the living space that we need …
To be sure a new situation has arisen. I experienced those poor worms Daladier and Chamberlain in Munich. They will be too cowardly to attack. They won’t go beyond a blockade. Against that we have our autarchy and Russian raw materials.
Poland will be depopulated and settled with Germans. My pact with the Poles was merely conceived of as a gaining of time. As for the rest, gentlemen, the fate of Russia will be exactly the same as I am now going through with in the case of Poland. After Stalin’s death – he is a very sick man – we will break down the Soviet Union. Then there will begin the dawn of the German rule on earth.
World Topics HL History
Route 2
Practice Paper 1
Prescribed Subject 3: Move to Global War
Question Booklet
Instructions to Candidates:
- DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION SOURCE BOOKLET UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
- Refer to the Source Booklet which accompanies this examination paper.
- Answer all the questions in Prescribed Subject 3
Refer to the accompanying Source Booklet and answer ALL the questions in Prescribed Subject 3: Move to Global War.
Prescribed Subject 3: Move to Global War
These questions relate to Invasion of Poland and German Aggression 1920-1939.
- (a) What, according to Source A, was the significance of the outbreak of hostilities? [3 marks]
(b) What message is conveyed by Source B? [2 marks]
- Compare and contrast the views expressed about Hitler’s motives for the attack on Poland in Sources A and C. [6 marks]
- With reference to origin, purpose and content, discuss the value and limitations of Sources D for historians studying Hitler’s foreign policy aims. [4 marks]
- Using these sources and your own knowledge, examine the reasons for Hitler’s invasion of Poland. [9 marks]