OCR A Level History A
Y314/01 The Challenge of
German Nationalism 1789–
1919 Combined Question
paper & Marking Scheme
A+ May 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y314/01 The Challenge of German Nationalism 1789–1919
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12‑page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the responsibility of the Kaiser and his
government for the First World War. [30]
Passage A
© Ian Porter; Ian D. Armour, Imperial Germany 1890 - 1918, p49 and 52, Routledge, 1991. From first line "The German government’s intentions in July 1914 seem plain." to last line "it did so not pessimistically but in a mood of belligerent optimism." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Passage B
© AJP Taylor, The Course of German History, p192-3 and 195-6, Routledge, 1945. From first line "All the agencies of Bismarck’s Reich," to last line "so that the boundaries of Greater Germany w ould extend eastwar ds as far as the Middle East." Item re mov ed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y314/01 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Zollverein was the most important economic development in the growth of German
nationalism in the period from 1789 to 1919.’
How far do you agree? [25]
3* How important was the decline of Austria in the Unification of Germany in the period from 1789
to 1919? [25]
4* ‘Prussian ambitions undermined the aims of German nationalists in the period from 1789 1919.’ to
How far do you agree? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y314/01 Jun25
Y314/01 The Challenge of
German Nationalism 1789–
1919 Combined Question
paper & Marking Scheme
A+ May 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 23 May 2025 – Morning
A Level History A
Y314/01 The Challenge of German Nationalism 1789–1919
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12‑page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the responsibility of the Kaiser and his
government for the First World War. [30]
Passage A
© Ian Porter; Ian D. Armour, Imperial Germany 1890 - 1918, p49 and 52, Routledge, 1991. From first line "The German government’s intentions in July 1914 seem plain." to last line "it did so not pessimistically but in a mood of belligerent optimism." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Passage B
© AJP Taylor, The Course of German History, p192-3 and 195-6, Routledge, 1945. From first line "All the agencies of Bismarck’s Reich," to last line "so that the boundaries of Greater Germany w ould extend eastwar ds as far as the Middle East." Item re mov ed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y314/01 Jun25
, 3
Section B
Answer any two questions.
2* ‘The Zollverein was the most important economic development in the growth of German
nationalism in the period from 1789 to 1919.’
How far do you agree? [25]
3* How important was the decline of Austria in the Unification of Germany in the period from 1789
to 1919? [25]
4* ‘Prussian ambitions undermined the aims of German nationalists in the period from 1789 1919.’ to
How far do you agree? [25]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y314/01 Jun25
