ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 Question
Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V4 7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘Modern Italy as seen by an English woman’, a book by Cicely Hamilton, published 1932.
Hamilton was a journalist and writer who had travelled extensively in Europe.
The last election took place in 1929, known as Year VII of the Fascist Revolution. Italians
had to register agreement or disagreement with the list of national candidates put forward,
which meant approval or disapproval of the works and ways of the government. 90% of the
electorate voted, and 8.5 million answered with a satisfied ‘yes’. A meagre 136 000 cast in
the disapproving ‘No’. This result was displayed in proud letters on one 5
of the municipal buildings in Florence, and probably through the whole of Italy. I stared at
the figures. This was the election affected by the Lateran Treaty, signed in the preceding
month. One of the results of this treaty was that good Catholics, instead of abstaining as
they did before, were urged by their priests to the poll! Even allowing for this, the figures
were outstanding. If election results can be taken at face value, Fascism appears to be 10
attaining its goal of uniting the political conscience. Fascism is creating a nation of people
who think alike!
Source B
From a speech to the Italian Senate by Giovanni Gentile, 1930. Gentile was described as
‘the philosopher of Fascism’, and co-wrote the ‘Doctrine of Fascism’ with Mussolini.
The important thing is not to confuse faith in Fascism with a membership card. The great
mass of Italians today, if we only take account of simple loyalty to the regime, is Fascist. But
one is not Fascist when one merely limits oneself to belonging formally to the regime and to
move in its orbit. It is too evident that the Fascist out of fear, since there are also some of
these, is not Fascist except with his lips. Fascism is courage, daring, discipline – yes, iron 5
military discipline. It is necessary that the Fascist should think, and desire, and educate
himself, and form himself, and collaborate for his part in the construction of the new
powerful Fatherland. This cannot be just a phrase, even when spoken in a loud voice, but it
must be a reality. It can only be born of the sacrifice of men who give themselves to an
ideal. 10
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2L
, 3
Source C
From an essay about life as a youth in Northern Italy in the late 1920s and early 1930s by
Davide Lajolo, published 1962. Lajolo joined the Communist Resistance in 1943.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C argues that Fascist propaganda was wide-ranging and all-encompassing
at this time.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess
the value of these three sources to an historian studying the support for Fascism in Italy in
c1930.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2L Turn over ►
Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V4 7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘Modern Italy as seen by an English woman’, a book by Cicely Hamilton, published 1932.
Hamilton was a journalist and writer who had travelled extensively in Europe.
The last election took place in 1929, known as Year VII of the Fascist Revolution. Italians
had to register agreement or disagreement with the list of national candidates put forward,
which meant approval or disapproval of the works and ways of the government. 90% of the
electorate voted, and 8.5 million answered with a satisfied ‘yes’. A meagre 136 000 cast in
the disapproving ‘No’. This result was displayed in proud letters on one 5
of the municipal buildings in Florence, and probably through the whole of Italy. I stared at
the figures. This was the election affected by the Lateran Treaty, signed in the preceding
month. One of the results of this treaty was that good Catholics, instead of abstaining as
they did before, were urged by their priests to the poll! Even allowing for this, the figures
were outstanding. If election results can be taken at face value, Fascism appears to be 10
attaining its goal of uniting the political conscience. Fascism is creating a nation of people
who think alike!
Source B
From a speech to the Italian Senate by Giovanni Gentile, 1930. Gentile was described as
‘the philosopher of Fascism’, and co-wrote the ‘Doctrine of Fascism’ with Mussolini.
The important thing is not to confuse faith in Fascism with a membership card. The great
mass of Italians today, if we only take account of simple loyalty to the regime, is Fascist. But
one is not Fascist when one merely limits oneself to belonging formally to the regime and to
move in its orbit. It is too evident that the Fascist out of fear, since there are also some of
these, is not Fascist except with his lips. Fascism is courage, daring, discipline – yes, iron 5
military discipline. It is necessary that the Fascist should think, and desire, and educate
himself, and form himself, and collaborate for his part in the construction of the new
powerful Fatherland. This cannot be just a phrase, even when spoken in a loud voice, but it
must be a reality. It can only be born of the sacrifice of men who give themselves to an
ideal. 10
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2L
, 3
Source C
From an essay about life as a youth in Northern Italy in the late 1920s and early 1930s by
Davide Lajolo, published 1962. Lajolo joined the Communist Resistance in 1943.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C argues that Fascist propaganda was wide-ranging and all-encompassing
at this time.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess
the value of these three sources to an historian studying the support for Fascism in Italy in
c1930.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2L Turn over ►
