2025 AQA AS HISTORY 7041/2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953
Component 2N The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917–1929
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
AS
HISTORY
Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953
Component 2N The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917–1929
Monday 19 May 2025 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
7041/2N.
• 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
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From the comments of a peasant from Samara province (central west Russia) speaking to
Trotsky, March 1920. This account was published in Trotsky’s writings, 1920.
Source A cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source A is a peasant describing the Cossack Whites as greedy and unscrupulous.
Source B
From a letter sent to General Anton Denikin by General Peter Wrangel, 9 December 1919.
Both Denikin and Wrangel were White Army Generals in the south of Russia.
The continual advance has reduced the effective force of our army. Vast numbers of
troops are not engaged in fighting and there is considerable disorganisation. The war is
becoming, for some, a means of growing rich through robbery and crime. Each army unit
strives to secure as much equipment as possible for itself and seizes everything that
comes to hand. What cannot be used is sold at a profit. The Army is absolutely 5
demoralised and is fast becoming a collection of tradesmen and profiteers. Many officers
are away on prolonged missions, busy selling and exchanging loot. Nearly all have
enormous sums of money in their possession; as a result, there has been an outbreak of
gambling, immorality and wild behaviour.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining why the White armies were
defeated in the Russian Civil War?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/2N
Component 2N The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917–1929
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
AS
HISTORY
Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953
Component 2N The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917–1929
Monday 19 May 2025 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
7041/2N.
• 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
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From the comments of a peasant from Samara province (central west Russia) speaking to
Trotsky, March 1920. This account was published in Trotsky’s writings, 1920.
Source A cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source A is a peasant describing the Cossack Whites as greedy and unscrupulous.
Source B
From a letter sent to General Anton Denikin by General Peter Wrangel, 9 December 1919.
Both Denikin and Wrangel were White Army Generals in the south of Russia.
The continual advance has reduced the effective force of our army. Vast numbers of
troops are not engaged in fighting and there is considerable disorganisation. The war is
becoming, for some, a means of growing rich through robbery and crime. Each army unit
strives to secure as much equipment as possible for itself and seizes everything that
comes to hand. What cannot be used is sold at a profit. The Army is absolutely 5
demoralised and is fast becoming a collection of tradesmen and profiteers. Many officers
are away on prolonged missions, busy selling and exchanging loot. Nearly all have
enormous sums of money in their possession; as a result, there has been an outbreak of
gambling, immorality and wild behaviour.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining why the White armies were
defeated in the Russian Civil War?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/2N
