AS OCR History - Churchill 1920-1945 F963/02

I would also have a look at Churchill's relationship with the Grand Alliance before the exam tomorrow since it's quite a big topic and they've only ever asked about FDR. I doubt they'd do a question only on de gaulle but you never know so at least learn something. For example, when Churchill invited De Gaulle to Casablanca conference in January 1943 he initially rejected showing tension. Another example showing tension is when De Gaulle was very unhappy that free french forces weren't used during the occupation of Madagascar in May 1942, and only British forces were used as De Gaulle feared British intentions. So if there's a source suggesting strained relationship between Churchill and De Gaulle, you can use this to show that own knowledge does back up the source and hence it could be seen as credible due to it bit typical to an extent. If the source was suggesting that the relationship was all bad though and there was no constructive element then you could attack the source as there were times when De Gaulle and Churchill showed co-operation. For example, the joint British and free french invasion of Dakar in September 1940 called 'operation Menace' even though it was unsuccessful as the french forces didn't rally behind de Gaulle as expected and stayed loyal to the Vichy leader petain.. You could also talk about Churchill having to balance his relationship with De Gaulle as FDR saw De Gaulle as a nuisance for various reasons such as 'operation menace' which angered FDR as he saw no reason to support the 'free' french over Vichy france as he wanted to cultivate any potential Nazi opponent of which Vichy France could be one.They were particularly useful due to their strong navy. This meant that by co-operating with de Gaulle, Churchill risked alienating FDR.
You would never use this much own knowledge by itself in an answer bear in mind. The answer is source led and own knowledge is just a means of extending the debate arising from the sources.

How did everyone find it??

The hardest Churchill paper there has been IMO. Question b was so awkwardly worded!!


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awful

How did everyone find it??

The hardest Churchill paper there has been IMO. Question b was so awkwardly worded!!


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I thought it was a nice paper to be fair, I'm retaking and I found last year a lot more difficult.


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I agree, this was quite a hard paper. it was hard to write about the issue, even if you know what it was about. i put all the sources agree that with the interpretation, except C and D i think. I guess you had to define reality, that Stalins army was in Europe already so nothing could be done except bluffing him into giving maximum control to Britain in places like Greece.. What did you guys write?

a lot of rubbish. Source B definitely didn't suggest he was realistic though

I guess they will except it as long as you explain why. B suggests that Stalin was in power and was a dictator and thats they only way he could be dealt with as Stalin puts a tick at the end, which means he gets it. Thats what i wrote :/

I thought you had to say what realistic meant...

it was hard cos so many of the sources were from Churchill...

I wonder how the Hallam guy who started this thread last year found the paper he did...oh well onwards and upwards

Good luck for the rest of your exams

source B was the modern historian going on about how percentages agreement meant nothing. it was source A mentioning the tick

I guess they will except it as long as you explain why. B suggests that Stalin was in power and was a dictator and thats they only way he could be dealt with as Stalin puts a tick at the end, which means he gets it. Thats what i wrote :/

I said that sources A, C, D and most of E supported the idea he was realistic, with only B and a little of E refuting it.

D could've been seen as unrealistic because he was asking Stalin not to have total control of Poland which in April 1945 was very unrealistic as the red army was in control of Poland and the Lublin Pole government had been set up.