GCSE History - Unit 2 - Outline Study (GHR21) - Berlin Airlift and Cold War Tensions 1945–1961

Q: What period does this History Unit 2 Outline Study focus on?

The paper focuses on the period 1945 to 1961, examining how Soviet actions in Eastern Europe affected international relations.

Q: What does Section A require students to do?

Students must answer all questions in Section A, which are based on interpreting provided sources, including Source A about why the USA carried out the Berlin Airlift.

Q: What tasks are included in Section B?

Section B requires students to compare different views about the Berlin Wall, explain why the views differ, evaluate how convincing a historian’s view is about reasons for US-USSR tension by 1961, and judge how far both sides were to blame for tensions over Berlin from 1945 to 1961.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Rowan

GCSE History Unit 2 Outline Study (GHR21) exam paper focuses on different interpretations of Soviet actions in Eastern Europe and their impact on international relations from 1945 to 1961. Section A requires analysis of provided sources, including a US official’s explanation for the Berlin Airlift. Section B asks students to compare perspectives on the Berlin Wall, assess reasons for US-USSR tension over Berlin by 1961, and judge how far both sides were responsible for tensions between 1945 and 1961.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Section A

Source-based questions on USSR actions and international relations, 1945–1961

Section B

Compare views on the Berlin Wall

Explain reasons for differing interpretations

Evaluate convincingness of reasons for US-USSR tension by 1961

Judge agreement: blame for tensions over Berlin, 1945–1961

| |

General Certificate of Secondary Education 2022 | |
Centre Number

Candidate Number
| | --- | --- | --- | --- | | History
Unit 2:
Outline Study
[GHR21]
MONDAY 6 JUNE, MORNING *GHR21*
*GHR21*

TIME
1 hour 15 minutes.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your Centre Number and Candidate Number in the spaces provided at the top of this page and on any additional sheets.
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided in this question paper – there may be more space than you need. Additional lines have been added to the booklet if you require more space.
Do not write outside the boxed area on each page or on blank pages.
Complete in black ink only. Do not write with a gel pen.
Answer all questions in Section A and two questions in Section B.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
The total mark for this paper is 60.
Figures in brackets printed down the right-hand side of pages indicate the marks awarded to each question or part question.
Quality of written communication will be assessed in Question 6(a) or 6(b) in Section B. | | | | | 13110 | | | | *20GHR2101* *20GHR2101* BLANK PAGE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE 13110 *20GHR2102* *20GHR2102* | |
Section A | | | --- | --- | --- | | Answer all questions
The questions which follow are about different interpretations of the actions of the USSR in Eastern Europe and the impact on International Relations, 1945–1961.
1 Study Source A below and answer the question which follows:
Source A: General Clay, Governor of the US zone in Germany, speaking in 1948
We are determined to keep our promise to protect the people of West Berlin. The USSR does not recognise the strength of our air force. The USSR does not care about several million German people in Berlin who do not want to be forced to live under communist control. We care, and we will fly in supplies to help the people of West Berlin.
What does Source A tell us about why the USA carried out the Berlin Airlift?
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[4]
Use the lines below if required.
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____________________________________________________________________ | | | | 13110 | | [Turn over

| *20GHR2103* *20GHR2103* | |
2 Study Source B and Source C below and answer the questions which follow: | | | --- | --- | --- | | Source B: The view of a British reporter writing in 2011 about events in Berlin in 1961
The people of Berlin woke up to find East German soldiers sealing off the city with barbed wire. Weeks later a concrete wall placed Sovietcontrolled East Berlin firmly behind the Iron Curtain. This was to stop East Berliners from escaping to West Berlin where living standards were better. The wall split families and neighbourhoods, causing great unrest.
Source C: The view of an East German politician, in January 1989, speaking about the building of the Berlin Wall
I am proud of the Berlin Wall. Our soldiers built this barrier to protect our State from the West. Since 1945 they have been trying to control Berlin with their actions and their propaganda, and they have tried to get our people to leave so that our economy would suffer. The Wall has stopped this and helped to make Europe more stable. It has also prevented a Third World War. I believe that the Wall will still be standing in 50 years’time. | | | | 13110 | | | *20GHR2104* *20GHR2104* |
13110 | (a) Source B and Source C give different views about the Berlin Wall.<

FAQs

What period does this History Unit 2 Outline Study focus on?

The paper focuses on the period 1945 to 1961, examining how Soviet actions in Eastern Europe affected international relations.

What does Section A require students to do?

Students must answer all questions in Section A, which are based on interpreting provided sources, including Source A about why the USA carried out the Berlin Airlift.

What tasks are included in Section B?

Section B requires students to compare different views about the Berlin Wall, explain why the views differ, evaluate how convincing a historian’s view is about reasons for US-USSR tension by 1961, and judge how far both sides were to blame for tensions over Berlin from 1945 to 1961.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Rowan