AQA
A-level
HISTORY
7042/2L
Component 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945
Version: 1.0 Final
,A-level
HISTORY
Component 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945
Friday 9 June 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
7042/2L.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• 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:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun23/E4 7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From the war memoirs of an army officer, Ardengo Soffici, published 1919. Soffici was a
Nationalist and supported the war. He witnessed the defeat at Caporetto in 1917.
Immediately after the defeat at Caporetto, what struck me most was the calm of many of
the soldiers. Some lay stretched out in the sun, enjoying the deep sleep of young men.
Being peasants, others were wandering around examining carefully the nature of the
crops and the soil. Are these beaten men? No! Are they deserters, rebels or traitors?
No! Are they – let us be honest – cowards? No! The soldiers are victims. The soldiers 5
are uncomprehending. The soldiers are deceived. There is no evil in them. Italy is like a
flower; a flower which is dying because its roots are in very poor soil. The evil which is
destroying Italy is in the roots and the soil. The evil is the humiliation and
embarrassment caused by the politicians in Rome who divide, cause disagreements, lie
and bicker. The government has abandoned us. The evil is everywhere but not here at 10
the front. Here there is only suffering.
Source B
From an article by Benito Mussolini, published in his newspaper, ‘Il Popolo D’Italia’,
15 December 1917. This was after the defeat at Caporetto.
What an immense moral force is contained in the patriotic spirit of the soldiers who return
from Caporetto. The disabled veterans today are the first of the great Italian army to
return. They await the homecoming of their brothers-in-arms: millions of demobilised
soldiers. This enormous mass of men is bound to cause shifts in the balance of our
society. The brutal and bloody training of the trenches will mean more courage, more 5
faith, and more determination. The old parties and the old men who, in the future, carry
on as if nothing has happened, will be swept aside. We observe with contempt
everything which is said and done by the old windbags who govern us. The Italy of today
has been created in the trenches at Caporetto. The millions of workers who return from
the trenches will realise the importance of class and nation. Our movement is gathering 10
together the soldiers’ passions, and we will be with them to see that the highest justice is
done.
IB/M/Jun23/7042/2L
A-level
HISTORY
7042/2L
Component 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945
Version: 1.0 Final
,A-level
HISTORY
Component 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945
Friday 9 June 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
7042/2L.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• 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:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun23/E4 7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From the war memoirs of an army officer, Ardengo Soffici, published 1919. Soffici was a
Nationalist and supported the war. He witnessed the defeat at Caporetto in 1917.
Immediately after the defeat at Caporetto, what struck me most was the calm of many of
the soldiers. Some lay stretched out in the sun, enjoying the deep sleep of young men.
Being peasants, others were wandering around examining carefully the nature of the
crops and the soil. Are these beaten men? No! Are they deserters, rebels or traitors?
No! Are they – let us be honest – cowards? No! The soldiers are victims. The soldiers 5
are uncomprehending. The soldiers are deceived. There is no evil in them. Italy is like a
flower; a flower which is dying because its roots are in very poor soil. The evil which is
destroying Italy is in the roots and the soil. The evil is the humiliation and
embarrassment caused by the politicians in Rome who divide, cause disagreements, lie
and bicker. The government has abandoned us. The evil is everywhere but not here at 10
the front. Here there is only suffering.
Source B
From an article by Benito Mussolini, published in his newspaper, ‘Il Popolo D’Italia’,
15 December 1917. This was after the defeat at Caporetto.
What an immense moral force is contained in the patriotic spirit of the soldiers who return
from Caporetto. The disabled veterans today are the first of the great Italian army to
return. They await the homecoming of their brothers-in-arms: millions of demobilised
soldiers. This enormous mass of men is bound to cause shifts in the balance of our
society. The brutal and bloody training of the trenches will mean more courage, more 5
faith, and more determination. The old parties and the old men who, in the future, carry
on as if nothing has happened, will be swept aside. We observe with contempt
everything which is said and done by the old windbags who govern us. The Italy of today
has been created in the trenches at Caporetto. The millions of workers who return from
the trenches will realise the importance of class and nation. Our movement is gathering 10
together the soldiers’ passions, and we will be with them to see that the highest justice is
done.
IB/M/Jun23/7042/2L
