Day Three-Hundred Eleven January 15, 1918

No food has been delivered to the Second Company and we are beginning to fear for the worst death of all- hunger. In addition to the offensive infantry on our backs, the British and French have begun employing the flamethrower. What a vile threat this flamethrower poses! The German Bundeswehr has been utilizing this weapon for some time…yet, we seem to have underestimated the extent of our enemy’s plots. Here in camp we have two Flammenwerfere to select from: the Kleinflammenwerfer and the Grossflammenwerfer. The light Flammenwerfer is the Kleinflammenwerfer which a single man can carry through the frontline; however, I have seen no soul survive the turmoil of battle with such a heavy load on their backs. Furthermore, the Grossflammenwerfer is t he larger of the two Flammenwerfere and provides the farthest range of fire. Not many men employ the Grossflammenwerfer since it is a very heavy weapon and uses expensive fuel. Kat says the Bundeswehr value fuel over meals for the soldier which, unfortunately, is a true fact of the German military!

Day Three-Hundred Thirteen January 17, 1918

Today we faced a menace much stronger than the devastating urge of hunger- the tank. Although the German military is usually prominent in war technology, the British have beaten us to this destructive war machine. There was talk of this “landship” in Second Company camp during last year’s British trench raids; however, no man could comprehend the amount of force which struck the German Army within a few minutes of combat. German forces have begun to work on a particular design for a military tank so we can fight back against British and French forces. Talk around camp gives us information that a battle will ensue at Villers Bretonneux around April 24, 1918 and that the German hope to employ their tanks in the battle. Unlike other forces, the Bundeswehr aspire to use the tank as a defensive system and as an aid to infantry. In other words— I’m sorry, Tjaden has just bellowed that Kindervater has shown signs of shell shock, particularly the thousand-yard stare. I must take my leave; hopefully the British and French will not dispatch another tank squadron against our deprived troops…

Day Three-Hundred Fourteen January 18, 1918

A new weapon was introduced today to the camp of Second Company; it is called the machine gun. Unlike our petty rifles, this gun can fire faster and kill an abundant amount of troops in three rounds. Although they weight from 30 kg to 60 kg, all the machine guns we received came with a tripod device which would allow us to mount it in the general direction of the enemy trenches. Müller tells me that he has heard that these guns overheat very easily and begin to malfunction soon afterwards. Apparently, these machine guns have been employed by the German military for three years now. It saddens me to learn that such a powerful weapon could have saved thousands of soldiers had it been delivered to Second Company sooner. On a lighter note, Kat tells me that the British Royal Army has rejected these machine guns since they believe that they merely serve as a burden for their soldiers. Of course, the people making the decisions are simply politicians in furnished offices, not soldiers in grim and destructive combat.

Day Three-Hundred Sixteen January 20, 1918

I am sorry for the delay in writing this journal entry; however, life has been very intriguing as a new soldier who was recently on a German submarine has entered Second Company. Although he does not like to talk about his travels much, he has revealed that the German military has employed submarines called U-boats, which is simply short for Unterseeboot (undersea boat). These submarines are primarily utilized by the German military even though the United States and Britain dwelled upon this technology a couple of years ago. From what I’ve been told, the German military sends the submarines off in fleets which allows for a safer journey to the desired port or battlefront. I’ve come to wonder how these magnificent underwater boats could breeze the ocean without changing fuel an abundant amount of times. The soldier explained that for surface cruising, a diesel engine was used and that an extra medium-caliber deck gun was also employed for maximum firepower and support. It will probably be a while before I will see a submarine; however, the aspects of this great ship seem earth-shattering, even in words.

Day Three-Hundred Eighteen January 22, 1918

Today, an interesting fellow was deported to the Second Company camp; he was a former pilot who flew above the British Army and gathered intelligence. I was intrigued by his adventures in flight and learned that he did not fly airplanes in combat, but merely flew airplanes as a “scout”. A scout was a pilot who simply flew airplanes above or around the general vicinity of an enemy base to gather military intelligence. It was not until years later, he says, that the British, American, and German militaries began using these airplanes as combat systems. He stated that many times, German planes would be mounted with machine guns which would fire behind the plane to prevent any enemy tailings. I believe that I scared him through such a vast amount of questions, but he did mention that French pilots began to experiment with constructing planes which had high-caliber guns on the front side of the airplane. These planes are though to already be in production as of 1918 and are sure to devastate German troops and German planes alike. If only this war would end, then no suffering would be endured through the vast amount of technological advancements…

Day Three-Hundred Nineteen January 23, 1918

Another day at battle and another precious solder lost to deadly clutches of war. If not for our 3” trench mortars, there is no telling how Second Company would survive the gruesome battlefield. It is through these mortars that we reduce our chance of death in the trenches since these mortars are capable of killing hundreds of men in only a few well-aimed shots. Albert Kropp always comments on how the war is only destroying lives, not mending relations; however, these words do not stop Second Company from employing the mortars as they are our only survival tactic. The German military is currently the most advanced military in relation to trench mortars; however, the British, American, and French forces are slowly creeping up to our combat standards and are begin to utilize the mortars as well. In about six months or so, they shall be using the mortars as heavily as we are, only creating more turmoil and destruction. I will cry with joy when this war ends since I will be able to go back home and meet my mother, father, and sister once more…everything will be back to normal.

Day Three-Hundred Twenty-Eight February 1, 1918

…One of our own men has recently been killed in “No man’s land”, a dreadful piece of land which is the battleground for British and German combat since it has no particular occupied forces. Usually the Second Company refers to “No man’s land” as the land between our trench and the enemy’s trench. Since no man wishes to risk his life, this land remains unoccupied, yet the bloodshed of war continues without fail. While huddled in our barren trench, I drew a quick sketch of this demonic piece of land which plagued Second Company from ever achieving victory and bliss from British and French forces…

Day Three-Hundred Thirty February 3, 1918

Another day passes and another horrid death of one of Second Company’s comrades. This time the death was through the British and French’s utilization of mustard gas, a destructive gas which was originally developed by our military forces. This gas badly blistered our comrade and left him defenseless in the frontline while we scurried away to save our own hides. In war, many things men do may seem sinister; however, we are merely protecting ourselves and acting on instinct and training. The other gas known as chlorine gas caused many of our soldiers to cough and choke to death, although many had been shot in the lungs before the gas could kill them. Furthermore, phosgene gas was inhaled by some of our company’s troops and no medics could notice the effect of the gas until two days on the frontline. The death of our comrades whilst in the trenches due to a gas was a horrid sight to behold and left a permanent scar on my soul…Hopefully tomorrow will bring joy, though I shudder to contemplate more biological warfare upon our devastated soldiers!

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Three February 6, 1918

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was one of the most successfully flying aces of World War I and a great aid to the German military. Haie Westhus continues to mention his name while in the trenches, stating how his glory amplified the courage of the German military. The reason for Haie Westhus’ sudden obsession with the “Red Baron” as many call him is because he has recently crashed in the fields of Morlancourt, France. All of the soldiers in Second Company grieved over his sudden death and contemplate whether or not his death will mean a destruction of the German military. The Red Baron’s fame came from his powerful air raids and flying abilities. It is rumored that he has had over eighty flight victories, a number which is thought to be unachievable. The soldiers of Second Company say that he was flying to close to the ground and was shot by infantry. Although he could have survived, battle fatigue took over his senses and he was soon found dead in the fields of France…

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Six February 9, 1918

The Schlieffen Plan is a war strategy created by Alfred Graf von Schlieffen and is highly criticized by all soldiers of the Second Company! This foolish plan gave hope to all the soldiers of Second Company, informing us that we would receive victory against France on the Western front and Russia on the Eastern front…neither victories were achieved. The Battle of the Marne halted the offensive plan and what looked like the end of a simple war resulted in years of trench warfare for all the soldiers of the German military. As the years went by, the promises of the Schlieffen plan become faint and all the soldiers began to realize that this war was far from over! This military strategy was merely a joke and its purpose of ending the war in a sufficient manner simply prolonged the war for years to come. Hopefully the war will end soon and I will be able to return to a normal life with my friends…

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Seven February 10, 1918

Today Tjaden and I spent the evening remembering the cause of the war and how we were initially affected by the grave announcement. We both remember being to Kantorek’s classroom and hearing about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. Soon after, a series of diplomatic events followed which eventually lead to the breakout of war in Germany and surrounding countries! It is hard to believe that a single being, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, could have been the sole catalyst of the war; however, the papers insist upon this fact. The entire Second Company believes that the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand may have been a factor in the cause of the war, but not the sole factor. Even though we are petty soldiers compared to the great politicians of the Twentieth century, we still hold a thirst for knowledge and desire to know the cause of the war which has killed so many of our own comrades and partners…

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Nine February 12, 1918

Recently, a peculiar soldier entered Second Company temporarily and told us of a French army nurse named Helen Burrey. This nurse was originally born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and moved to France during this war in order to help the French soldiers in need. Although this soldier was German, he felt that such a kind act could not go unnoticed and that he was obligated to tell someone of her kind and selfless actions during the war. He stated that she was a Red Cross nurse and had helped an abundant amount of soldiers, even saving lives near the battlefront. As he was telling this tale, I was intrigued that such a young woman would jeopardize her life in order to help the armed soldiers in need. His words touched my soul and I felt, for once, that there was some good left in the world. I continue to lie awake at night and hope that this war will end and allow me to explore my soul and gain insight of things in life which do not include suffering and bloodshed…

Day Three Hundred Forty February 13, 1918

A Sketch of a Common Trench in France During World War I- By Paul Bäumer

Day Three Hundred Forty-Two February 15, 1918

Although my classmates and I did not enlist in “Pal Battalions”, we were amazed at the amount of men this system had accumulated! The politicians of the German Empire formulated a concept which would allow young men to enlist with their friends and fight in war together. This is similar to the Second Company’s structure as all of my friends are in the same Company as I am. If Pal Battalions had existed when I enlisted in the army, I would have chosen this enlisting strategy above all others, since part of the reason I enlisted in the army was to further cross paths with my classmates. As friendly as this concept sounds, the young men who enlist in war do not realize the pain and suffering which comes along with it! Fighting together with your friends sounds like a fun idea; however, seeing your friends die and suffer in front of your eyes is a necessary evil which comes with this enlisting strategy. No matter how much the politicians dress up war, it will always be deadly combat and ruthless killing…

Paul Bäumer
Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg
Schlossplatz 10
76113 Karlsruhe
Germany

February 12, 1918

Aaltruide Bäumer
Baden-Württemberg
Landeskreditbank 10
56118 Förderbank
Germany

Dear Mother:

I write to you with elated spirits and the heart of a soldier! Thus far in Second Company, we have had a sufficient amount of food, no bloody battles, and powerful soldiers. All the stories you hear about war back home are false! From the time I enlisted in the army to the present, I have not seen a single soldier die in a bloody raid or trench attack. All of our soldiers are pleasantly sleeping as I am writing you this letter; I hope to come home soon and taste some of your delicious potato cakes which I have yearned for in the trenches!

The Second Company consists of all of my classmates from Kantorek’s class along with other people such as Stanislaus Katczinsky whom I have befriended. All of these soldiers aid me on the frontline and we always share laughs about our family back home and our memories of the open country side. I miss home very much; however, I feel that serving my country of Germany is just as important as living life with your family and friends! I remember all of our memories together, mother, and I am very anxious to see you again and tell you more about my adventures as a full-fledged German soldier!

All of the events which have taken place on the battlefront have aided me in learning many important life lessons! I believe that enlisting in the military was one of the most important decisions I have made in my life and I hope that you stand by my decision. In fact, I feel that without enlisting in the armed forces, my life would be very sullen and boring. The battlefront is very exciting and although I have heard of soldiers dying on the front, I feel that Second Company is in good hands and that the war will soon be won! I must stop writing this letter now since the commander calls us to our positions at the trenches; however, I hope to write to you again soon and I love you with all my heart!

With delight and compassion,

Paul Bäumer

Mad World
Gary Jules (cover of Tears for Fears)

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Mad World
Enlarging your world
Mad World.

The song “Mad World” by Gary Jules extends Paul Bäumer’s mood in the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque as it utilizes powerful imagery and emotions of sorrow and melancholy to amplify death as the ultimate release of mourning. The song contains the lyrics “No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow, No tomorrow, no tomorrow” which mimics Paul’s feelings throughout the book since Paul is a romantic figure who is exposed to war and must detach himself from his emotional perspective in order to survive the destruction of his loved ones around him. Furthermore, the song also contains the lyrics” Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson look right through me, look right through me” which extends Paul’s feelings in the book since his teacher Kantorek is the original character who coaxes Paul to enlist in the army, attaching ideals of glamour and power with the image of war. However, Paul’s experience in war proves otherwise and he realizes that his teacher’s advice was flawed, ultimately representing the fact that the ideals and images of a society can greatly differ from reality. In conclusion, the song “Mad World” mimics Paul Bäumer’s feelings throughout the book as it represents the effect of sorrow and melancholy upon a person’s feelings and how devastation can cause an individual to detach himself from his emotions in order to survive.

“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso

The painting “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso represents prominent emotions associated with the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque as it depicts the tragedy and turmoil of war and how its effect does not create happiness and peace, but merely misery and suffering. In the painting, the viewer witnesses a man yelling out of pain and misery depicted on the far-right side of the painting. This man is depicted in the painting to express the destruction of war and how pain and despondency will not mend any relations. Similarly, Paul Bäumer experiences war and finds that he must block his own emotions of sorrow and grief in order to survive in a war which only kills and does no good to the people of Germany. Furthermore, the painting contains another man depicted on the left side of the painting who has fallen with a broken dagger. This fallen man evokes the war’s effect on the people and how brave soldiers are forced to meet an embryonic conclusion due to the senseless battles of politicians. In relation to the book, Paul Bäumer was coaxed to enlist in the army due to his teacher Kantorek whom he looked up to and trusted. Kantorek’s advice merely destroys Paul’s future and ends the lives of his friends, representing the misconception of war by society and the abundant amount of damage it does to the people. In conclusion, “Guernica” extends Paul’s feelings and emotions throughout the book since it conveys the harmful and destructive effects of war on society and young soldiers who blindly enlist and meet a fatal conclusion.

1. My trench journal captures Paul Bäumer’s character development through the book and truly illustrates the destructive effects of war upon young soldiers and society while concurrently expressing the importance of friendship. My trench journal attempts to recreate the atmosphere of war and the emotions of suffering and sorrow to amplify Paul Bäumer’s experience as a soldier and lost memories as a childhood boy. Through my trench journal, I attempted to illustrate the fact that although war may be painting as an adventurous feat by society, the reality of war is very different. War is not adventurous nor is it exciting, war is dreadful and no matter what a country does to create an illusion of security in war such as Pal Battalions; war will continue to bring death and sorrow upon grieving families and friends. I believe that my trench journal correctly affirms the destructive nature of war and accurately depicts the life of a young soldier who was pulled into war blindly, oblivious to the impact war would have on his life.

1. I enjoyed this project very much as it provided me with insight about the true meaning of war and how much suffering and pain can result from such gruesome battles. I also learned about the development of weapons which revolutionized combat and provided soldiers with new means of destroying the enemy. In conclusion, this project gave me an abundant amount of knowledge on the various aspects of war and how each of these aspects contributes to the overall goal of war- defeat the enemy and leave no threats standing.

1. My work reflects my learning since I have analyzed each aspect of war thoroughly and blended it with the character Paul Bäumer and his experiences on the frontline. My project is constructed to mimic the atmosphere of World War I while concurrently relating this historic event to the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque by creating trench journals which provide the reader with historical information regarding the Great War through Paul Bäumer’s fictional experiences on the frontline. Through viewing my project, you will notice that in addition to my analysis of the book and World War I, I have also integrated both of these topics together and created a fictional environment of destruction and turmoil in order to amplify the Paul’s experiences in World War I and the impact of World War I on young soldiers in the military.

1. This project has taught me that I am capable of analyzing a book and relating it to a historical event while simultaneously expressing these feelings and emotions through an atmosphere created by art. I have learned that I am not just able to analyze a book and formulate a summary based on what I have read. In fact, this project has taught me that simply creating a summary of a book is low-level thinking and that true analysis and connection must come from further analyzing the book by relating it to historical events and recreating the emotions experienced by the characters in the book. This project has had a powerful impact on my writing and has taught me that a simply analysis is not enough to truly understand the piece of literature you are reading, you must dwell deeper to learn the meaning of the author’s words and ideas.

1. This project aided me in realizing that the picture or image of war materialized by society is merely a dream and does not exist in reality. War is a gruesome plague which destroys many families’ dreams and hopes of living life in harmony and happiness. War is a battle started by politicians and fought by young men who blindly enlist in the army, hoping to serve a purpose in life and fight for their country. This project has taught me that war is a destructive matter which is meant to resolve a conflict, but merely creates additional conflicts. The life lessons of friendship and reasoning ring true in war since the friendship of his comrades is one of the only things which kept Paul Bäumer alive in war and without friendship, Paul would have probably perished during the first days of war. Lastly, reasoning holds true in these situations since Kantorek merely manipulated Paul and his classmates to enlist, and since Paul did not know any better, he trusted society with his life and met a tragic conclusion. The adventurous nature of war painted by society is very different from reality and one must use his own logic to differentiate the two forces and expose the true meaning of war.

‘Army City' Garnett, Kansas August 6, 1917

My Dearest Mary,

We are in the Army now. I am sitting inside our little old tent listening to the gentle patter of the raindrops on the canvas. It began raining here this morning and it is still at it. No drill today, so I will have time to write a letter or two. We got into the city all O.K., marched up to the armory and had dinner. They have mess in the armory. We have to march back and forth to eat. Eats are pretty good so far as they have some women helping with the cooking.
Set up camp in the afternoon. Shoemaker has been Acting Corporal in our squad. We got the tent up all right under the direction of one of the old heads who has seen service on the border. Some equipment was issued in the afternoon. As my name is down well in the list, I have not received anything yet in my own name.
Corporal Hilton is staying in town so he let me have his stuff. Got pack, gun, poncho, and numerous other things I don't know what are used for. Slept on the ground last night in a tent with just an even dozen in it. Some of the fellows are staying in town at hotels, rooming houses, and private houses. Taken altogether, things are in rather poor shape as yet, but I suppose it takes a little time to get around. A few of the bunch act like a bunch of bums instead of soldiers, but they will get that taken out of them when they get to a real camp.
They got Parker Melliush for kitchen duty the first thing. Walter Anthony was stuck for guard duty last night. It must be fine walking up and down in front of a row of tents watching the other fellows sleep. One thing they did do, everybody had to quiet down at ten-thirty last night. We had a good entertainment before lights out. (We had a light, too, as some of the bunch got hold of a lantern.) A fellow in our squad by the name of Donald gets off some pretty good comedy -- original stuff, too. He is a rather rough nut, but not as bad as some of this crowd.
There was some crowd at the station yesterday, wasn't there? I think I shook hands with everybody in town three or four times. Not a very pleasant task under the circumstances, either. Well, I got so much company in here that I can't think straight. This is rather a poor excuse of a letter, but I will write again soon.

With best of love to my own little girl,

Lloyd S.

Interview Questions:

1. How does the reality of war contrast to the image of war painted by society?

1. Do you often remember your family on the frontline or are your thoughts focused on the enemy?

1. What is the primary weapon of choice for an American soldier in the Army and how do your weapons stand against your enemies’ weapons?

1. What motivated you to enlist in the army and would you quit the Army if there was an opportunity?

1. Have you felt that your emotions and feelings limit your ability on the battlefield or do they aid you in times of crisis?

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-One October 12, 1917 (Chapter 1)

We continue to fight on the frontlines for our country of Germany. We have spent the last two weeks in constant battle and Second Company, which contained one-hundred fifty men, now is only comprised of eighty men. Among my fellow soldiers, there are men whom I have known my whole life, such as Müller, Albert Kropp, and Leer. In addition to my classmates, there are men whom I have just met such as Tjaden the locksmith, Detering the farmer, Haie Westhus the peat-digger, and Katczinsky, the wisest and most cunning man of Second Company. After much fighting on the frontline, we return to camp where we are told that Ginger the cook will not allow us to have all the food he prepared since he prepared enough food for one-hundred fifty men. We persuaded him to give us all the food and he gave into our constant nagging! The time of eating is the greatest time in the life of soldier, no problems or fears, only bliss and enjoyment. We despise our old school teacher Kantorek since he forced us into this “glorious” war, continuously telling us that we would be revered as heroes by our town. All we have seen thus far is death and despair, two sights a person would never want to witness during their lifetime. Today we also went to see Kemmerich; this young man does not have long to live as his skin is very pale and his leg has already been amputated. Müller continued to inquire about his boots; however, I told him that he will have to wait until his death since we do not want to lower his spirits before his final hour.

When Paul initially enlists in the German military, he feels heroic and powerful since Kantorek fueled his emotions and informed him that true men enlist in the military. As time moves on, Paul Bäumer realizes that war is not heroic nor is it exciting; war is a destructive means of achieving a political goal. His teacher Kantorek was a powerful patriot and painting war as an adventurous feat which only true men perform; however, Kantorek himself had never experienced the grueling tragedies of war. When Paul experiences a meal in the kitchen of Second Company, he realizes that war has hardened him and forced him to appreciate the things in life he usually took for granted such as food, whether it is good or bad. His realization of his evolution through war shows that although he is considered a man by society, he true soul lies as a defenseless boy who is merely used as a pawn in a vast political empire. When Paul Bäumer and his classmates visit Kemmerich, they see that he does not have a long time to live. Paul immediately experiences feelings of guilt as he told Kemmerich’s mother that he would take care of her son, yet, here he lies with an amputated leg, moments away from his final hour of death. Müller’s suggestion of taking Kemmerich’s boots for himself represents how Paul and his classmates have drastically evolved from boys into ruthless men who take any action to survive.

“They are square, neat boxes with wooden slides all round, and have unimpeachably satisfactory seats.” (Remarque 7).

Unimpeachably- Beyond doubt or reproach.

“But for all that we were no mutineers, no deserters, no cowards—they were very free with all these expressions.” (Remarque 13).

Mutineers- Someone who is openly rebellious and refuses to obey authorities.

Although World War I ended and the politicians signed the necessary treaties to prevent this event from occurring again, the ghosts of war continue to linger and will continue to affect society, regardless of political agreements. These aspects of war are depicted in the political cartoon which shows the remnants of a town which was decimated by World War I and a dagger with a soldier hat positioned on top of it. This illustration expresses the destructive nature of war and how a simple treaty cannot fix the damage dealt to the people through endless and mindless combat. The cartoon further exemplifies these aspects of war as it depicts three ghosts titled Famine, Anarchy, and Plague floating above the destroyed city. The illustration of these three “Ghosts of War” amplifies the fact that the effects of war will continue to linger in society regardless of any political action taken to end the war, ultimately calling for a reform amongst the people of a nation. In conclusion, although politicians may attempt to end a war with treaties and executive agreements, war will continue to linger and its effects will not be diminished through politics.

I learned that war is a gruesome act which not only kills or mutilates soldiers on the battlefront, but also brings mourning and sorrow to eagerly awaiting families. No matter how much a society paints war and decorates it with ribbons and honors, war will always bring death and despair to those who associate with it, willingly or unwillingly. War is created to mend world relations between countries through politics yet; the only people who suffer are the soldiers in combat, not the politicians in the air-conditioned rooms. This chapter also taught me that the friendship is a very precious aspect of life and that having an abundant amount of comrades is sometimes the difference between sorrow and happiness, life and death. Family and friendship both work to create happiness and good yet, they are often brought pain and suffering by war and fighting. The relation to family in this chapter made me realize that although it is easy to blame someone else or even yourself, many things in life come unexpected and people must learn to accept this fact of life just as they accept the bloodshed of war.

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-Three October 14, 1917 (Chapter 2)

I remember my life before this horrible war started. I was young and filled with romance as I used to write poetry and enjoy the trees and flowers of nature. Now, I feel distraught and hardened; I have learned more about life in these past few years than I have my entire life in school. My classmates and I were detached from life before we could accomplish anything. The older men in Second Company have families and land; we have only the war and the hazy memories of our parents. I feel that the older men will soon forget this war since they have seen so much in their lives before this. My classmates and I have no other memories to return to…this war will forever dictate my life and actions. Throughout this war I have tried to see everything in an optimistic light…hopefully this mindset will allow me to survive the war and live my life peacefully. A new man named Corporal Himmelstoss now commanded our troop and humiliated us every single chance he got. Tjaden, Haie, and Albert Kropp would constantly go into a rage about his inconsiderate punishments and his former job of being a simple postman. Looking back on this event, I now realize that Himmelstoss’ humiliation and inconsiderate nature is what aided us in surviving the war for so long as our experiences in war would have killed us long before we ever reached the frontlines. I visited Kemmerich’s bed side today and saw that he had already realized that his leg had been amputated, creating an atmosphere of sadness and mourning. He told me to take his boots to Müller which automatically told me that he was ready to die. I kept informing him artificial limbs and the technology associated with them yet, he did not listen and simply died on the bedside…a horrible image to witness. As the nurses took him away to make room for another patient, I slowly took his boots and ran back to Second Company camp.

When Paul Bäumer initially begins to remember about his life before the war, he begins to feel sorrow and regret toward enlisting in the German military. Although he has learned more life lessons in the military than his whole career at school, he continues to feel that the German military has done more harm than good to his character and only hardened him to an inconsiderate soldier who fights to survive. Furthermore, Paul realizes that during the training in military camp, Himmelstoss’ behavior is much like his own in the fact that Himmelstoss was a simple postman who was hardened by war and the battlefront. He also notes that power corrupts everything and everyone around him which shows that he realizes the war dramatically changes all individuals who deal with it. Paul Bäumer mentions that if it were not for Himmelstoss’ humiliating training and foolish drills, the destructive nature of war would have driven him mad and ultimately killed him. Paul feels that he has developed into a hardened character through war and that this development has helped him survive, but also maimed his character for any other career path he wished to follow. Paul experiences feelings of guilt with Kemmerich’s death since he promised his mother that he would be home safe; however, Paul also realizes that war is war, and a single death cannot defeat its ultimate purpose.

“He had the reputation of being the strictest disciplinarian in the camp, and was proud of it.” (Remarque 23).

Disciplinarian- Martinet: someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms.

“Many of us became ill through it; Wolf actually died of inflammation of the lung.” (Remarque 26).

Inflammation- A response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat.

http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/redscare/IMAGES_LG/World_Unrest.gif

The various evils and quarrels which sprang from World War I continue to impact society and will not cease until they are drowned out by peace and reason, calling for a social reform amongst politicians and the people of a nation. These aspects of World War I are witnessed in the political cartoon where it depicts several logs titled “Strikes, Riots, etc” burning and filling the atmosphere with the smoke titled “World Unrest”. This illustrations exposes the fact that the problems which arose from World War I all work together to form a “smoke” of trouble” which must be destroyed by peace in order to successfully initiate world reform and harmony. The cartoon further depicts this aspect of World War I through a hose on the right-side of the cartoon titled “Peace”. This illustration of a hose titled “Peace” reflects the fact that there is a method to rid the world of all the turmoil and destruction arising from World War I; however, this power falls upon the people and politicians of a country and can only be done when there is complete cooperation. In conclusion, the different evils and problems arising from World War I will continue to impact the world until peace is initiated, ultimately calling for action amongst the politicians and people of a nation.

This chapter gave me insight about the true nature of war and that its horrible effects do not only linger physically, but also mentally. This chapter showed how war can easily maim a person’s future and destroy their inspiration and imagination. Although many old people have had memories of the world before war, young people have no prior experience and shape their life around this destructive battlefront we call war. I learned that promises made to friends and family can sometimes be broken because of the twists and turns of life, ultimately causing the person to feel guilt and despair even though they could not have changed the outcome. During war, a person is taught to detach themselves from all their emotions yet, friendship holds true as one of the most valuable devices in war. If it was not for friendship, Paul Bäumer would have not been able to survive World War I for as long as he did. In fact, all of Second Company would not have been able to control themselves through the insanity of war had it not been for their great friendship and connection to their families.

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-Four October 15, 1917 (Chapter 3)

A fresh new group of young soldiers arrive at Second Company to make up for our losses on the battlefront; my classmates and I feel like veterans who have spent their whole life on the front. Most of these lads are barely seventeen years old and they are already holding a rifle in their arms and are ready to slaughter the enemy. Kat gave these young soldiers some beans to eat before the battle; however, they will soon have to repay him with the tobacco they promised him in return. Kat’s ability to scavenge food and live his life peacefully on the front is a remarkable trait which I have not yet learned, and probably never will. Kat’s philosophy states that if all soldiers on the battlefront received the same pay and the same amount of food, the war would long be over and we all could return home. Albert Kropp also holds the philosophy that wars should be fought by the politicians who start them, not young soldiers who are blindly drafted into the war. The actual war is much worse than Corporal Himmelstoss’ constant nagging and humiliation; if you mess up in this battlefield, you are slaughtered. Today Tjaden arrived and informed us that Corporal Himmelstoss will be entering the front and fighting alongside Second Company in the trenches. We are all very exciting to teach Himmelstoss a lesson as he has humiliated us in the drill camps; however, he is oblivious to the actual pain and suffering which war brings. The main person who wants to humiliate Himmelstoss is Tjaden, since he was forced to share a bed with Kindervater, a bed wetter like himself. Himmelstoss did this so Tjaden would break this habit; however, this torture only created anger and hatred within Tjaden. One night we took revenge upon Himmelstoss by covering his head with a bed cover and beating him senselessly. Afterwards we stripped him of his pants and lashed his behind until we realized that he must stop so we wouldn’t get caught. The foolish old Corporal never realized who gave him the beating which made the whole event even funnier.

When the new troops arrive at the Second Company camp in the trenches, Paul feels like an old veteran since he has gained much experience on the battlefield and is able to recall when he was as naïve as the new soldiers. Paul comprehends that all of Second Company has learned to deal with the harsh environment of war and that no trade is comparable to the survival tactics utilized on the battlefront. When Paul Bäumer realizes that he is a veteran, he experiences feelings of regret and sorrow since he knows that he became a veteran unwillingly and this character transformation has detached him from his feelings and diminished his imaginative nature. When Corporal Himmelstoss is announced to be arriving at Second Company shortly, Paul’s feelings are that of excitement and revenge, since he knows that Himmelstoss has not experience the emotions associate with war. Furthermore, Paul’s emotions shift to gratitude and contentment when he recalls how Second Company beat Himmelstoss and humiliated him in the streets as payback for the humiliation they had to endure during his drills. Although Paul Bäumer feels that he has time to spend with his friends and chat of events back home, he also knows in the back of his mind that he will soon return to war and fight another day of survival and destruction.

“The question revives Kropp, more particularly as he hears there’s no more beer in the canteen.” (Remarque 43).

Canteen- Tin or wood container on a strap, used to carry liquid.

“Everyone knows that drill ceases only in the front-line and begins again a few miles behind, with all the absurdities of saluting and parade.” (Remarque 45).

Absurdities- A ludicrous folly or issue.

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During World War I an abundant amount of countries attempted to deplete the reputation of the United States by promising their destruction to other countries; however, the patriotic nature of the United States’ citizens held strong and the US was ultimately victorious in the Great War. The US’ enemy plots can be witnessed in the cartoon when a German commander says to a neighboring commander, “Join with Germany and you get a bit of United States”. This illustration emphasizes the fact that the countries against the United States will continue to seek alliance with other countries in order to overpower the US; however, this plot will not be successful since the strength and patriotism of the US’ citizens will overpower the evil of the enemy. This message is further amplified when the cartoons writes the message “Some Promise!” on the bottom. This message exemplifies the fact that the United States will overpower the evil of their enemies through power and patriotism, ultimately leading the US to victory and triumph. In conclusion, an abundant amount of countries attempted to destroy the reputation of the United States through promising the destruction of the country in World War I; however, the power and patriotism of the US will supersede all evil and ultimately result in victory and triumph.

During this chapter I learned that war hardens a character and forces them to detach from their emotions in order to survive the battlefront. Since war brings so much tragedy it forces the person to throw away all of unnecessary knowledge and simply focus on survival, ultimately transforming the individual into a killing-machine. Paul Bäumer was a young boy who had an imagination and enjoyed to write poetry; however, war has transformed him and caused him to become a person who merely lives to survive another day. The single factor which causes Paul Bäumer to remain sane and logic is his friendship with the various comrades in Second Company. All of these friends aid each other throughout the journey of war and do not hesitate in killing another man for their safety on the battlefront. This chapter has also taught me that during war, family is forgotten and memories of your family become very hazy. In fact, friendship becomes more prominent than family since comrades are the individuals who will aid you in survival and help you through the hard times during war. Family continues to serve as motivation for the soldier to continue living and survive the ensuing war.

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-Six October 17, 1917 (Chapter 4)

Today the Second Company was assigned to lay barbed wire on the battlefront so the enemy will not be able to cross into our trenches and kill our soldiers. This is a very dangerous task for any soldier and we must constantly be aware of any bombardments that may occur while we are laying the wire down. As we pass along the dirt road on a lorry, Kat and I witness a house full of geese. We make a promise to come back to this area later and feast upon these animals. We begin to hear shells and gunfire in the distance and the new recruits begin to show signs of fear. Kat explains that it is possible to tell which gun is fired from the sound the bullets or shells make in the distance. During war the ground becomes a soldier’s best friend since he is able to hide in it and dodge an incoming shell. Unlike in towns and villages, during war, a man’s animal instincts awaken and he is transformed into a human animal that lives only to survive another day. We continued to carry wire and iron rods to the battlefront and after we laid the wire, we began to sleep until we heard the Lorries arrive to drive us back to camp. Kat’s prediction of a bombardment held true and we were forced to scramble for shelter away from the incoming shells which shattered the earth. I aided a young soldier and told him to put his helmet on his behind if he was not going to use it on his head. Furthermore, Detering the farmer was shrieking in terror at the cries of the horses in the battle. He kept yelling “Kill them!” and “End their lives!” since he was a farmer and held a greater connection to the animals than anyone else of Second Company. This fury was followed by a gas attack which forced us to put on gas masks for approximately ten minutes, although it seemed like ages. Afterwards, we found the lad whom I helped earlier; his hip was partially destroyed and we wanted to end his life mercifully with a gunshot to the head; however, we heard enemies coming and ran for our lives.

When Paul Bäumer is given the task of laying barbed wire on the battlefront, he experiences feelings of fear and agony since he realizes that this is a very frightening and dangerous job. When they are arriving to the front by Lorry, Paul hears the gunshots but does not experience fear like the newer recruits since he has already dealt with these sounds before and knows when he should be alarmed. Furthermore, when Paul tells of how the Earth is a soldier’s best friend in combat, Paul feels that he has been transformed into a human animal by war and that his animal instincts have taken over his life. Although Paul is saddened by this fact, he also comprehends that without this crucial survival tactic, he would be long dead on the battlefield like some of Second Company’s other soldiers. When Paul witnesses the horses experience pain on the battlefront, he feels a small amount of regret and suffering yet, he knows that he cannot feel too emotional about events such as these since they happen to often and such feelings would ultimately result in his insanity. When Paul sees the recruit whom he’d helped earlier with a broken hip, he realizes that his time has come and feels no feelings of sorrow or melancholy since he has experienced this situation before and knows how to deal with it. All of the events which Paul Bäumer must endure each deal with the subject of death, ultimately hardening his character and forcing him to detach from his emotions in order to survive the war.

“In the spasm of terror, under the hailing of annihilation, in the bellowing death of the explosions, O Earth, thou grandest us the great resisting surge of new-won life.” (Remarque 55).

Spasm- A sudden surge of energy or muscular contraction.

“The lorries bump through the holes, and we rock to and fro in the half-sleep.” (Remarque 73).

Lorries- A large vehicle usually used for transporting bulk goods or other materials.

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Through the employment of The League of Nations, the United States has fell into obligation toward other countries and is unable to act upon its’ own interests, ultimately allowing the other countries to prevail over the United States. This aspect of The League of Nations is shown in the political cartoon when it depicts all countries mentioned in The League of Nations tying the hands of Uncle Sam together. This illustration exemplifies the fact that The League of Nations will only hurt the United States and deem it immobile in relation to the actions taken by other countries against the US. The League of Nations is further criticized in the political cartoon when it depicts the words “The League of Nations” on the bands which are holding Uncle Sam’s hands together. This illustration further amplifies the fact that the League of Nations is merely “tying” the United States’ hands together and giving way to other nations and allowing them to take advantage of the United States’ immobilization. In conclusion, the League of Nations will merely limit the authority of the United States in relation to other foreign countries, ultimately allowing the other countries to take advantage of the US and do harm to its society and government.

I have gained insight about war and the importance of friendship through this chapter since Paul Bäumer is forced to fight through the war regardless of his opinions, ultimately forcing him to undergo a character change. During this chapter I have come to learn that the friendship of your comrades and the love of your family is enough to keep a soldier alive and well. Paul Bäumer has seen death many times yet; he continues to press on and fights to survive another day on the battlefront. This never-ending determination is fueled by friendship and his desire to see his family once more. I have learned that one of life’s most important virtues is friendship since loyal comrades will stand by your side no matter what and aid you in battle, even if no one else will. Paul Bäumer’s memories of his family slowly begin to fade during his time on the battlefield, yet he continues to fight in order to see them again. This determination taught me that no matter how hard a situation can be, you must never lose hope and continue to fight to see another day. You comrades will help you accomplish this goal and sometimes, they can be the only ones to lend a helping hand when you are in need of help. This simple fact makes friendship one of the most valuable things on earth.

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-Seven October 18, 1917 (Chapter 5)

Life at the front is very unsanitary and the trenches are filled with muck and rats that live off the corpses of dead soldiers. Tjaden and Haie spend time killing the lice which crawl up their skin and boots in search of human blood while I simply sit and wait for the next enemy attack to come. The rumor Tjaden informed us of earlier was true! Corporal Himmelstoss for caught torturing his troops and was sent to Second Company as punishment for his crime. During our chat today in the trenches, Müller began asking soldiers what they would do if the war would be suddenly over. Kat mentioned that he would want to see his wife and children again. Tjaden obviously said that he would gain further revenge on Himmelstoss for his humiliating drills. Detering said that he would yearn to come back to his farm and wife. Finally, Haie said that he would become a noncommissioned army officer since his former job as peat digger was anything but pleasant. At his moment, Himmelstoss entered and order Tjaden to stand up; however, Tjaden rudely ignored his order and merely mocked his authority. He later fled when Himmelstoss returned with a higher authority to prosecute Tjaden. All of my classmates began to wonder how life would be without the war and whether or not war has totally destroyed their lives for good. Later that same evening, Tjaden and Kropp were put on trial since each of them insulted Himmelstoss when he entered their conversation earlier that evening. The presiding lieutenant takes pity on the two men since he knows Himmelstoss’ rude behavior and gives them a light punishment of open arrest. Kat and I bribed the driver of the munitions wagon to take us back to the house where we originally heard the geese. We quickly capture the geese and cook them on the spot. This was such a good meal that we took some meat back to Tjaden and Kropp for them to enjoy since food is very scarce on the battlefront.

When Paul Bäumer describes the unsanitary conditions on the battlefront, he experiences feelings of disgust and discontent since he contrasts these living conditions with his childhood memories. Paul thoughts continue to linger around the fact that although he continues to escape shells and bullets, the war does not cease in destroying his mind and body. He is now a seasoned soldier who scavenges the front in search of survival. He is no longer a young man who writes poetry and listens to the everyday chirping of the birds; the war has taught him to detach himself from these emotions and fight without feeling. When Paul meets Himmelstoss for the second time in the trenches of the battlefront, he experiences feelings of excitement since he realizes that Himmelstoss will be forced to experience pain and suffering similar to what he had already experienced. When Paul was a young boy, we did not care for violence and war yet, he was coaxed to enlist by Kantorek, an old patriot who had never experienced the pain and suffering of war. Now, Paul Bäumer has detached himself from all his memories and feelings, simply living to kill the enemy and survive the ensuing battles constantly raging on the front. When Paul captures the geese with Kat and cooks them over an open fire, he realizes that the single factor which has aided him throughout the whole war is friendship, and without this crucial entity, he would have probably already died long ago.

“The rumour has materialized.” (Remarque 76).

Materialized- To take physical form or shape.

“ Albert cleans his nails with a knife. We are surprised at this delicacy.” (Remarque 86).

Delicacy- A choice food or technique.

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During World War I the politicians who controlled the military and the government of the United States took shelter in the fact that the enemy was not destroying an abundant amount of American weapons; however, when the enemy began to initiate a strike, the politicians merely sat and did nothing in a state of euphoria. This aspect of the United States’ politicians is depicted in the cartoon through the words “Up to now they’ve scored very few hitz,” near the bottom of the cartoon. This phrase emphasizes upon the fact that the politicians took comfort in the enemy’s track record of devastation; however, they had no other backup plan and merely stayed in a state of falsified harmony. Furthermore, the cartoon continues to expose the politicians’ lack of effort in World War I through the use of the phrase “So I’ll sit on my canny…” near the bottom of the cartoon. This phrase emphasizes the fact that the politicians merely sat in their air-conditioned rooms while war was ranging on since they refused to believe that the enemy was destroying America’s troops and weapons. In conclusion, the politicians of the United States sat in a state of euphoria since they refused to believe that the enemy was growing stronger, ultimately representing a corrupt use of power and the senseless destruction of innocent lives.

This chapter allowed me to realize that during war, the standards of life are dramatically lowered and soldiers are forced to live in conditions which prove to be very unsanitary. In addition to the unsanitary conditions of war, the structure of the military is set up in a fashion so that a man may receive more power than he is capable of handling. As mentioned earlier in the chapter, I man will jump at any chance to have power, like a dog trained to eat potatoes will jump at the opportunity to eat meat. Men who are used to having no power generally misuse their power since they have never had so much authority in their lifetimes. Due to this vicious cycle of authority, many troops are humiliated which causes them to become hardened soldiers and survive on the battlefront, no matter how bad the conditions are. Furthermore, since the standards of living are so low in war, the soldiers of Second Company are forced to take different opportunities at a meal, such as when Kat and Paul cook the geese they find in an abandoned house. These awful conditions cause the soldiers to abandon their feelings and emotions in order to survive and trust their animal instincts. Without their instincts, most men would have already been slaughtered at the frontlines since a man cannot detect every single thing through his eyes or ears.

Day Two-Hundred Ninety-Eight October 19, 1917 (Chapter 6)

Today Second Company was let out of the front two days early which allowed us to go back to camp. Every man was in a very happy mood today because of the wonderful news. On our way back to camp we passed a schoolhouse which had been destroyed by shells and right next to it was an abundant amount of coffins. Many of us began to joke around about the coffins; however, all of us knew that the coffins were made for us. Unfortunately, soldiers like us can only wait and hope for the best. This is somewhat saddening, but it is our only means of survival and we constantly must exercise it in order to prevent from going insane. They are large rats in the trenches which are aggressive when it comes to food on the frontlines. Each man must fight for his meal and kill as many rats as necessary in order to survive. Kat seems to be in a bad mood today which cannot be a good sign for Second Company since he usually knows what is about to happen during times of war. Finally, the bombs and shells begin to ensue and many recruits die because they attempt to escape our dugout when it is not safe. We have to bind many recruits in order to keep them from escaping. During these hard times on the battlefield, we must save all our men from dying since we will need an abundant amount of manpower on the frontlines later on. The shells and bombs lessen and the attack begins. We scavenge as much food as we can on the battlefield and kill as many French soldiers as we can. After much fighting and killing, we immediately head back to our positions and rest for a couple of hours. A soldier must take the chance to rest at every opportunity he gets. During this rest, my memories come back to me and I experience sorrow and regret, it has been quite a long time since I have had any creative thoughts. I am not a youth anymore, but a cold, hard warrior in a war. Another fight ensues and Himmelstoss is reluctant to go to the front to fight; he is a very big coward when it comes to the true nature of war. My comrade Haie suffered a fatal wound in the ribs and all of us mourned his passing. As time moves on, we realize that Second Company is only reduced to thirty-two soldiers, a staggering number. As each man falls, so do that man’s dreams and ambitions; a sorrowful and saddening sight to see…

When Paul is relieved of the front and is allowed to return to camp, he experiences feelings of happiness and contentment since he has been relieved of the battle and has time to rest. These happy feelings quickly end when he reaches a school house which has been decimated by hundreds of shells. Near the schoolhouse he sees a large amount of coffins which tells him that the German Military is anticipating the Second Company’s demise. Although the men joke about the coffins and try to cheer the company up, each man knows that the coffins were made for them and their destiny lies with death. Paul’s feelings continue to be sorrowful when he remembers his childhood memories and contrasts them with his current state. He is now a hardened soldier who is lifeless and only focuses on survival and destruction. Furthermore, when the battle continues to ensue on the frontline and shells begin to fall, Paul Bäumer abandons all his melancholy thoughts and focuses on his own survival in battle. As the battle continues to rage on, Paul experiences an abundant amount of fear; however, he has already dealt with this situation before so it is not much of a surprise to him. Finally, when the battle ends, Second Company has lost a staggering amount of men. Paul does not express sorrow since he has detached himself from any emotions during war and ultimately throughout his whole life.

“But the bayonet has practically lost its importance.” (Remarque 104).

Bayonet- A knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon.

“The next throw whizzes obliquely over the corner and clears a passage; as we run past we toss handfuls down into the dug-outs, the earth shudders.” (Remarque 117).

Obliquely- At an angle or diagonal.

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No matter what actions Germany takes against the Allies’ economies or social structures, it will always be defeated and will be trampled under the military authority of the superseding Allies, ultimately representing the insignificant position of malice in the world. This positive aspect of World War I is represented in the political cartoon since it depicts a hand titled “Germany” being dragged underwater. This illustration emphasizes upon the fact that no matter how hard Germany tries to defeat the Allies, it will always be dragged underneath and will never been able to conquer such a high authority in the world. This positive aspect is further amplified in the political cartoon through the text, “Germany Under All.” located on the bottom of the cartoon. This phrase further epitomizes the Allies superiority toward Germany since Germany’s rank as a nation is described as “Under All” and no matter what methods Germany takes in order to conquer the allies, it will always been dragged under due to its violent evil and malice. In conclusion, no matter what actions Germany takes against the Allies, it will always be defeated and crushed by the justice of the Allies, ultimately representing the low position of malevolence and cruelty in the time period of World War I.

During this chapter I have continued to learn that war is a terrible thing which deals destruction and suffering to those individuals who are associated with it, willingly or unwillingly. War’s cruel nature and torment causes the people who take part in it to become hardened and cold in their emotions and forces them to not express sorrow toward the events which take place in war. I have learned that friendship continues to reign as the most prominent feature of life and still holds strong during war, even saving lives and preventing insanity. The men of Second Company would be long dead if they did not have comrades whom they could fall back on for support. This chain of support which has formed in Second Company is very helpful to all the soldiers involved and allows them to survive the war, regardless of the horrible events which result from it. The people most affected the war as the families of the soldiers in the war. These families are forced to wait for their family member to come home from war while concurrently hope they he or she is not killed in any battles. Much like the soldier himself, families must wait and hope for the best. Unfortunately, sometimes “the best” does not occur and a situation goes for the worst; however, this is a fact of life that all human beings must deal with, regardless of age or maturity.

Day Three-Hundred October 21, 1917 (Chapter 7)

Today the Second Company was sent to a particular depot for jobs and organization. The old scoundrel Himmelstoss has attempted to make friends with us and he has succeeded since he has offered us easy jobs and good food for the whole week. Food and rest is all a soldier needs to be won over. After experiencing life on the front, nothing more can be desired since life on the front is so sinister and cruel. All of the soldiers joke as usual since nothing more can be done while away from the battlefield. I have notices however, that each soldier’s jokes have become more remorseful and bitter since they have detached themselves from their emotions and happiness. Today we met three women while swimming in the canal. Although we do not speak very good French and are forbidden to cross the canal, we met the women at their home late at night and began to chat until the hours of the morning. These conversations reminded me of my youth and how I was once interested in girls and would pursue them around the school yard. Unfortunately, life is very different for me now and I feel cold and indifferent in contrast to my youth…a very sad comparison. I received seventeen days of leave and ventured to visit my hometown and my poor family whom have probably wondered where I am and if I am still alive. When I visit my hometown, the people there are all starving and my poor mother is sick with cancer. When she asked me if it was bad on the front, I lied to her and said there were no problems on the battlefield. I could not burden my mother’s heart with nonsense such as war and bloody fighting. I have learned from a fellow classmate named Mittelstaedt that Kantorek has been forced to enlist into the army. He tells me that he has taken every chance to humiliate Kantorek since he forced so many of his friends to enlist in the army and die for their country of Germany. My final stop on my leave was at Kemmerich’s mother’s home since I had to tell her the news of her son’s death. She was very sorrowful; however, I swore on my life that he did not suffer when he died and his death was quick and painless. She believed me, and sent me on my way to my own mother’s home, where I was sure to be received with more tears and mourns. On the last night of leave, my mother spent the night on my bed weeping and sobbing about my return to the front. I pretended to be asleep; however, I secretly wished that I could die on her lap and be freed of the pain and suffering war has caused my family and I. My leave has only awakened pain and misery in my soul, two feelings which I would rather never remember again.

When Paul Bäumer and his comrades accept the friendship of Himmelstoss, this shows that Paul does not care about his relations with soldiers he does not know. The only people he cares for is his family and his close comrades such as Kat, Tjaden, Kropp, and Leer. Paul’s emotion toward others shows that war has hardened him and that he does not react toward compassion or love as he used to. Due to the destruction he has witnessed in his young life, Paul has learned to control his emotions and only react on instinct and fear. When Paul receives seventeen days leave, he experiences an abundant amount of happiness since this will enable him to meet his family again and rejoice with his friends. However, when he visits his hometown, he does not feel at home and realizes that the war has transformed his character and taste, creating a soldier who feels no compassion for his childhood. Although Paul is distraught regarding his feelings, he visits one of his classmates and learns that his school teacher Kantorek was recently forced to enlist in the army. Paul experiences feelings of joy and contentment when he hears that the man who destroyed his life is now forced to suffer a similar consequence. Unfortunately, Kantorek’s fate is considerably less tragic than Paul’s fate since Kantorek is already an old man who has seen his share of the world. Paul makes his way to Kemmerich’s mother’s home and suddenly begins to feel emotions of guilt and regret since he was supposed to protect Kemmerich and look after him on the battlefield. When Paul lies to Kemmerich’s mother about his death, he realizes that he is obligated to lie in order to save her health and remove unnecessary emotions from her life. He swears on his life that Kemmerich died without any pain and endured a quick death, ultimately showing how Paul attempts to keep the peace in his own home town even though the truth is much more dramatic and tragic.

“If it were necessary we would promise them a whole quartermaster’s store.” (Remarque 145).

Quartermaster- An army officer who provides clothing and subsistence for troops.

“We were never very demonstrative in our family; poor folk who toil and are full of cares are not so.” (Remarque 159).

Demonstrative- Given to or marked by the open expression of emotion.

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An abundant amount of politicians continue to advocate World War I and state that it will bring on American patriotism and prosperity; however, their intentions do not lie in patriotism, but in the war tax which provides them with unlimited amounts of money. This malice is witnessed in the political cartoon as a politician with a frightening face continues to advocate war with a flag that reads “War! War! War!” This illustration emphasizes upon the fact that politicians merely advocate World War I for money and could care less about the United States’ citizens and patriotism. Furthermore, this aspect is further epitomized in the political cartoon since behind the politician stand hundreds of boxes which are all labeled “War Tax”. This illustration further criticizes politicians’ corrupt motives since they are campaigning for war which brings death to soldiers in order to receive the self-satisfaction of gaining an abundant amount of money. In conclusion, corrupt politicians advocate World War I and inform the citizens that it will bring patriotism, peace, and prosperity to America; however, they motives do not lie in the welfare of America, but in the war tax which provides them colossal amounts of money.

This chapter taught me that the friendship is a very precious aspect of life and that having an abundant amount of comrades is sometimes the difference between sorrow and happiness, life and death. Family and friendship both work to create happiness and good yet, they are often brought pain and suffering by war and fighting. If it was not for friendship, Paul Bäumer would have not been able to survive World War I for as long as he did. Sometimes life will cause things to happen which in turn, cause promises to break; however, individuals must learn to cope with these problems and accept them as facts of life rather than faults of their own. When Paul informs Kemmerich’s mother of her son’s death, he is forced to lie since he does not want to destroy her life and he understands the pains of sorrow and destruction. When Paul is told of Kantorek’s conscription into the German military, he is overjoyed since he knows that this is the same man who bragged about the virtues and heroic nature of war. Paul trusted this man with his life and believed that war would bring him a heroic title and adventure; however, war only brought him pain and suffering, two emotions which have worked to ruin his life. I have learned through this chapter that war transforms a person so dramatically that even that person does not recognize his own home and family. War causes a person to rely on instinct and live on the battlefield for the sole purpose of survival.

Day Three-Hundred One October 22, 1917 (Chapter 8)

Today I reported for training camp in order to get ready for the frontlines once more. Near our training camp is a prison camp for Russian soldiers who were captured and taken prisoner during battle. Although many German commanders and soldiers merely ignore their begging or even kick these prisoners, I feel sorry for their condition. Their warm faces and kind begging remind me of my childhood and I feel as if I have known these people to be my friends, not my enemies. My feelings swept over me and I forced myself to give the Russian prisoners cigarettes in order to rid them of their suffering for a short while. While I was giving away my cigarettes, I learned that one of the men played the violin. He began to play outside my training camp and the lonely sound almost drove me to tears; however, I had to maintain my composure as a soldier of the German military. Before my return to the front, I receive a visit from my father and sister, two people who I would rather not see at that moment. We cannot find anything meaningful to talk about besides my mother’s operation which will end up costing an abundant amount of money. My father did not dare ask the price of the operation since he feared that this might prevent the surgeons from operating on her. My father and sister give me potato cakes and jam which my mother prepared for me. I did not have much of an appetite so I contemplated giving them to the soldiers until I remember the pain my mother must have been in when she made them. I compromised with the Russian soldiers and only gave then two potato cakes before returning to the front and fighting another ensuing battle for my life.

Paul Bäumer must feel emotions of regret and sorrow as he must once again leave his family and return to the ensuing battlefront where he risks getting killed. Paul continues to experience this sorrow because he visits the Russian prisoner camp and realizes that the people Paul has been fighting are just like he once was- kind and caring. He feels horrible for the way they are treated and despises the German soldiers who kick them and simply ignore them in order to gain self-satisfaction. Since he yearns for a way to ease their sorrow, he gives them cigarettes. Although he has done a good action toward them, he feels that this is not enough and that suffering will continue to ensue, no matter what futile actions he takes to stop it. The sad song of the Russian prisoner’s violin in the silent night only further amplifies Paul’s sorrowful state of mind and forces him to return to training camp where he is accepted as a simple soldier, not as an individual.

“But to wait for dysentery is not much of a life either.” (Remarque 193).

Dysentery- An infection of the intestines marked by severe diarrhea.

“The prisoners saying a chorale, they sing in parts, and it sounds almost as if there were no voices, but an organ far away on the moor.” (Remarque 195).

Chorale- Hymn-like song, characterized by blocked chords.

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The warships of the United States are suffering tremendously during World War I and are continuously being destroyed by German U-Boats, ultimately calling for a military reform and a development of a more coherent strategy. This aspect of the United States’ military is witnessed in the political cartoon since it depicts a United States ship sinking in the ocean with the text, “The Crowning Achievement” printed below. This illustration mockingly exposes the fact that the United States navy’s technology is not comparable with Germany’s navy technology and that a call for a new military strategy is need in order to be victorious in World War I. This characteristic of the United States Navy is further criticized in the political cartoon since it contains the text, “This Latest Submarine Victim May Be The Last” at the bottom of the cartoon. This text amplifies the United States’ need for a development of a more coherent strategy but also mocks the United States in that the people of the US will continue to hear about American deaths regardless of any military reform which would take place. In conclusion, the navy of the United States is suffering tremendously during World War I and is continuously losing men to the German U-Boat fleets, ultimately calling for a military reformation and the development of a more effective tactic.

This chapter gave me insight upon the lingering effects of war and how no matter how hard an individual tries in order to forget war; it will always linger, mentally and physically. This chapter showed how war can easily maim a person’s future and destroy their inspiration and imagination. Although many old people have had memories of the world before war, young people have no prior experience and shape their life around this destructive battlefront we call war. During this chapter I learned that war hardens a character and forces them to detach from their emotions in order to survive the battlefront. Since war brings so much tragedy it forces the person to throw away all of unnecessary knowledge and simply focus on survival, ultimately transforming the individual into a killing-machine. Paul Bäumer was a young boy who had an imagination and enjoyed to write poetry; however, war has transformed him and caused him to become a person who merely lives to survive another day. The single factor which causes Paul Bäumer to remain sane and logic is his friendship with the various comrades in Second Company. However, his friendship with his comrades in Second Company does not aid him in forgetting the evils of his past. In fact, his friendship on the battlefield on amplifies his memories of the battlefield, ultimately creating a cycle of sorrow and distraught feelings. I have learned that war shapes an individual into a fighting machine, no matter how ruthless or intelligence the individual may be.

Day Three-Hundred Two October 23, 1917 (Chapter 9)

When I returned to camp earlier yesterday, I found Müller, Albert Kropp, and Tjaden still alive and not injured at all. I felt relieved and shared my potato cakes and other delicacies with them before we would be sent out to the trenches to fight the enemy. The Kaiser or the emperor of Germany was coming to visit our Second Company camp so everything was cleaned in preparation for his arrival and all the military soldiers were given new uniforms in order to look sleek and furnished. When the Kaiser finally arrived, he was definitely not what I had expected. We had prepared long and hard for the arrival of a man who didn’t even care about the troops’ attire. He merely gave awards to those who led a certain company; he did not actually care about the bravely involved in any of the assaults. After his leave, the entire Second Company realized that the politicians who start wars merely want to get their name into a history book; however, many lives are lost because of their foolish endeavors. Later that week, I volunteered to go into No Man’s Land to gather information upon the enemies’ new tactics and strategies; however, I got lost on my way back and I feared a bombardment would soon begin. In order to save myself, I hid in a shell hole which was deep enough for me to retain cover. A Frenchman entered my shell hole and I was forced to stab the enemy in order to protect myself! Unfortunately, I could not venture outside as it was too light and I might have been seen! As time went by, I bandaged up the Frenchman’s wounds; however, I could not save him from his inevitable death…a strange feeling of guilt spread over me since I had just experienced almost ten hours of agony and misery. This was the first man I have killed in hand-to-hand combat and I hope it will be my last; the experience is dreadful and full of emotions of guilt. I actually even got the soldiers name and address from his pocketbook. Each picture of his children and wife I saw, I began to feel guiltier. His name was Gérard Duval and he was a printer by trade. He had children and a poor wife at home who would never see her husband again...because of me.

When Paul Bäumer entered No Man’s Land, he felt very frightened since anyone can easily die in No Man’s Land in a split second. Her fear only amplified when he got lost and could not find his way back to Second Company’s trenches. This is the reason Paul sought shelter in a shell hole where he was forced to murder a Frenchman who jumped into his shell hole. During the time that Paul was forced to spend sitting hear the Frenchman, Paul experienced pure agony since it was he who had condemns the man to such suffering. Despite his efforts, Paul could not save the man from his inevitable death, amplifying his guilt and sorrowful nature. Paul experienced immense guilt and agony when the man died since he had just learned that he was a printer by trade and had a wife and children at home who would be awaiting his arrival eagerly.

“A parachute star-shell opens out.” (Remarque 209).

Star-shell- A particular shell which was produced during World War I to carry parachute shells or bombs.

“All of my efforts subside like froth into the one desire to be able just to stay lying there.” (Remarque 211).

Subside- Wear off or die down.

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Britain’s futile attempts at destroying the economy and social structure of Germany has only backfired on the United States since England’s Blockade rule has hurt the United States’ shipping and neutral commerce. This destructive outcome of England’s Blockade rule can be witnessed in the political cartoon through the three babies crying titled “American Shipping”, “Neutral Commerce”, and “Neutral Commerce”. This illustration exposes the fact that although Britain wishes to maim Germany’s economy through their blockade rule, they are only hurting the United States’ economy and ultimately destroying American and British relations. This dire outcome is further illustrated in the political cartoon since it depicts an Englishman with a bat stating “I’m Trying To Hit Him”. This illustration emphasizes upon the fact that the British blockade rule is only harming the economy of the United States and is useless against the economy of the enemy, Germany. In conclusion, Britain’s attempts at hurting the economy of Germany are futile and only resulting the destructive of the United States’ economy, ultimately severing relations among the United States and Britain.

This chapter taught me that war’s cruel nature and torment causes the people who take part in it to become hardened and cold in their emotions and forces them to not express sorrow toward the events which take place in war. I have learned that friendship continues to reign as the most prominent feature of life and still holds strong during war, even saving lives and preventing insanity. The men of Second Company would be long dead if they did not have comrades whom they could fall back on for support. This chain of support which has formed in Second Company is very helpful to all the soldiers involved and allows them to survive the war, regardless of the horrible events which result from it. Paul trusted the old school teacher Kantorek with his life and believed that war would bring him a heroic title and adventure; however, war only brought him pain and suffering, two emotions which have worked to ruin his life. I have learned through this chapter that war transforms a person so dramatically that even that person does not recognize his own home and family. War causes a person to rely on instinct and live on the battlefield for the sole purpose of survival. Paul Bäumer’s memories of his family slowly begin to fade during his time on the battlefield, yet he continues to fight in order to see them again. This determination taught me that no matter how hard a situation can be, you must never lose hope and continue to fight to see another day. You comrades will help you accomplish this goal and sometimes, they can be the only ones to lend a helping hand when you are in need of help. This simple fact makes friendship one of the most valuable things on earth and forces a soldier to rely on their friends at certain points in war, whether they like it or not.

Day Three-Hundred Four October 25, 1917 (Chapter 10)

Tjaden, Albert Kropp, Detering, Kat, and I have been assigned to guard a supply dump in a village which has long been abandoned. It is no wonder why they would select this area to host a supply dump. We utilized a concrete shelter as a dugout and brought a bed, blankets, and mattresses into the dugout since we rarely have the change to sleep on beds such as these. We even gathered two great pigs and enough vegetables to cook a grand feast in the kitchen which is located near the dugout. I made the pancakes for everybody while the other soldiers roasted the pigs. Just writing about these foods makes my mouth water! Since we were cooking, the enemy caught sight of the smoke coming from the chimney so they bombed the house. All of Second Company left with the food they had prepared in the kitchen and he held a great feast in the dugout, regardless of the enemy’s bombs. We ended the night with cognac and an abundant amount of cigars which Kat had brought with him. This was probably one of the best meals I have had on the front. We lived a grand life for three weeks until we were forced to move to another area around the Western Front. While Kropp and I were inspecting another village, we were severely wounded by falling shells and we successfully sought the nearest ambulance wagon in order to heal our wounds. We travel to the hospital in the same train car and Kropp continues to mention that he will commit suicide if they amputate his leg. Soon after, Kropp gains a fever and we are forced to stop at a Catholic hospital nearby. The hospital was the best representation of what the repercussions of the war were and I continued to wonder what will occur if our entire generation is severely wounded. After an abundant amount of time, my wound heals well and the hospital begins to use paper bandages since cloth becomes very expensive and scarce in German hospitals. I return to my home once more; however, I am forced to leave soon after to return to the battlefront once more. Parting from my mother is even harder than before since she is even weaker than the last time I met her. Although I feel resent in leaving her, I know that I have no choice and must continue fighting for the German empire, regardless of my wishes or opinions…

When Paul is sharing a grand feast with his friends in the concrete dugout, he experiences feelings of happiness and content since his life is not in jeopardy and he is having a merry time; however, he also knows in the back of his mind that his time on the front is numbered. When Paul Bäumer is forced to move with Second Company to a new sector on the Western front, he experiences feelings of sorrow and misery since he realizes that he will have to return to the battlefield to fight and survive once more. When Paul and his comrade Kropp are injured and are taken to a hospital to recover. Paul experiences feelings of discontent and fear when he witnesses all of the injuries in the hospital ward. He begins to contemplate the future of the younger generation. Furthermore, when Kropp’s leg is amputated, Paul realizes that he does not have very long time to live. When Paul visits his mother again, his heart fills with sorrow once more since she is much weaker than before. His depression amplifies when he is forced to part with his family again; however, this time he will part with them for good.

“It is more convenient, too, because it lies right beside the lift to the mortuary.” (Remarque 257).

Mortuary- Pertaining to the burial of the dead.

“I see intestine wounds that are constantly full of excreta.” (Remarque 263).

Excreta- Waste products discharged from a body.

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American lives are continuously being diminished in World War I due to German U-Boats and enemy artillery; however, President Woodrow Wilson is oblivious to the lives lost at war and merely convenes Congress without taking any significant actions to stop the meaningless bloodshed. This dire situation of ignorance is witnessed in the political cartoon since it depicts President Woodrow Wilson writing a letter to convene Congress while reluctantly holding a piece of news which states that American lives have been lost. This illustration exposes the fact that although President Woodrow Wilson is taking action to save lives, he is not doing so fast enough and therefore, an abundant amount of lives are being diminished senselessly. Furthermore, this aspect is further amplified in the cartoon since it depicts a piece of news which states “Without Warning * American Lives Lost”. This illustration exposes the fact that not only is President Woodrow Wilson not taking action fast enough in relation to the war, but he is also not doing a sufficient job in organizing the military and preparing it for an incoming attack. In conclusion, American soldiers continue to die in World War I due to an increase in technology by the enemy; however, President Woodrow Wilson is oblivious to the lives lost at war and is not acting fast enough in order to make a difference in the continuous number of lives lost for such a meaningless reason.

Throughout this chapter I have learned that although an individual may experience joy in war, this joy is soon drowned out by his sorrow since he realizes that his comrades and he will soon perish in the war. This chapter has taught me that no matter how hard you attempt to create harmony within the world, it will always go back to a state of chaos and anarchy if that is the wish of the politician in charge. Politicians and emperors start these wars; however, young soldiers such as Paul Bäumer must fight them and fend for their lives. Youths such as Paul are dragged into war through false propaganda and images formulated by society in order to increase the amount of soldiers in the military. Throughout the war, the joyful youth slowly transforms into a cold veteran whose only purpose in life is to survive on the battlefront and get enough to eat. Due to these horrible living standards, many young soldiers die on the front through starvation or shells. Those who survive only survive physically; they are forever mentally wounded and will never be able to live a normal life again due to the transformation they had to undergo during the war in order to survive.

Day Three Hundred Six October 27, 1917 (Chapter 11)

We have since stopped counting our days at war, a sad, yet true confession of our tiring efforts while at war. War is very similar to a disease which lingers in man for his entire life. When I enlisted in the war, I was a young and ruthless boy who enjoyed writing poetry and employing my imagination to everything on earth. Now, I am a hardened soldier who feels indifferent toward everything. My only purpose in life is to kill the enemy and survive the battlefield; I have no other purpose. I identify myself as a soldier of the German empire, not as the individual Paul Bäumer. All of the soldiers in Second Company have come to share a similar ideology since war has transformed them into destructive human beings who focus on sole survival. Although we have become savage, we value friendship and comrades above all since on the front; a man can only rely on his comrades in order to survive. The only means of survival in war is undivided loyalty toward one another, without this, we would all have perished in war long ago. For a soldier, life is nothing more than constantly avoiding death on the battlefront. Rational thinking will only get you killed in war…unfortunately. Both Detering and Müller have already been killed in the war, although Detering was tried as a deserter and was probably executed moments later. After Müller’s agonizing death, I received his boots which once belonged to Kemmerich. I was reluctant to wear them yet; I knew that these boots were to be worn and are not to carry any sentimental value to a soldier of the German military. The war continues to go badly for the German military. The quality of our food has worsened and the troops which Second Company is provided with are very young and inexperienced; they die on the battlefield like flies. The summer of 1918 is destructive and involved the death of thousands of young German boys who were blindly dragged into the war like me. Kat was wounded a couple of days ago and I painstakingly carried him to the nearest dressing station while shells continued to fly around me. When I reach the station, I realize that Kat is long dead since a fragment of a shell punctured his skull and killed him instantly. Such is the story of my life, death and despair, these are the only two words I know…

Paul feels that he has been transformed into a human animal by war and that his animal instincts have taken over his life. Although Paul is saddened by this fact, he also comprehends that without this crucial survival tactic, he would be long dead on the battlefield like some of Second Company’s other soldiers. Paul continues to feel feelings of death and despair when all his comrades begin to die in the summer of 1918 and he slowly begins to realize that his whole class has perished in the war. Paul’s last comrade, Kat, even does when a fragment from a shell punctures his skull. These consecutive events drive Paul to realize that his life has been destroyed by war and the only thing left for him to do is to live his life out on the battlefield as the soldier of the German army. In addition to Paul’s depression, Germany is also losing the war and Paul continues to witness more and more young men die because they are becoming less and less experienced. All these issues concurrently detach Paul from his emotions and cause him to become a cold soldier who feels no pain and suffering.

“Were we more subtly differentiated we must long since have gone mad, have deserted, or have fallen.” (Remarque 273).

Differentiated- Become different during development.

“Anyone might have known that his flight was only homesickness and a momentary aberration.” (Remarque 277).

Aberration- A state or condition markedly different from the norm.

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The League of Nations addressed by Woodrow Wilson will only bring joy and triumph to the United States since it will create a peace treaty between all nations alike, ultimately preventing a future World War from ensuing. This aspect of The League of Nations is witnessed in the cartoon when it shows a piece of paper titled “Peace Treaty” running against a man who has a shirt titled “The Anti-League Team”. This illustration magnifies the fact that the League of Nations will bring peace and prosperity to the world since it will bring the nations of the world together through a peace treaty, ultimately ending all future wars. This aspect of the League of Nations is further addressed in the political cartoon since it depicts the Peace Treaty carrying a ball titled “The League”. This depiction emphasizes the League of Nations’ goal to bring tranquility to all countries alike and represents the fact that the League will bring peace and harmony along with it through an image of a peace treaty running against the anti-league team. In conclusion, The League of Nations will simply bring tranquility and peace to the world and will create peace among all countries, ultimately preventing a future war from forming.

Through this chapter I have gained insight upon the fact that during war, a soldier is forced to detach himself from his emotions and continue to fight in order to survive the battlefront. Although friendship is a crucial factor which keeps a soldier alive during war, a friendship can easily be broken since a comrade could be killed in war at any moment. Friendship during war must be valuable almost as much as your life since it is your comrades who will aid you in war and give a helping hand in your time of need. Unquestioning loyalty is the only type of relationship between soldiers which helps them get through the day alive. Any suspicions will only end up killing both the individual and his comrade since complete teamwork is required in order to survive at the battlefront. Finally, a young man who is transformed into a soldier does not have another alternative in life and must continue to live out their days as soldiers since their character has been hardened through the amount of pain they have endured and witnessed throughout their wartime career.

Day Three Hundred Seven October 28, 1917 (Chapter 12)

It is the autumn of 1918 and only a few months after the bloodiest summer of my experiences in war. I am the only living member of the group of classmates who enlisted in the war alongside me…this thought races through my mind ever y single day. The United States has recently joined the allies which means that our defeat as the empire of Germany is soon to follow. It seems that if the German politicians do not end the war soon, then the people of Germany will form a revolt against this war since it has caused them to starve and mourn for their loved ones. I have recently inhaled poison gas on the front and have been granted fourteen days leave to come back to my senses and begin to fight on the front once more. I am very eager to return home yet, I feel that when I return, I will see no one from my generation since all of them have perished in this war. I do not know what I will do with my life one I return home since I cannot accept this place as my home; my only home is the battlefront…an unfortunate fact. My own life has been destroyed and I feel no purpose in life anymore. War has transformed my character into a killing machine and my only task is to kill the enemy…I have no creativity or passion left in my life. I am merely a shell of a human being who once lived to fulfill his duty in life as an artist, writer, or tradesman. It is current October of 1918 and the message reported by the army is “All quiet on the Western Front.” This day is indeed very calm, no shells or bullets fired. How I wish to be freed of my misery and live life once more, reborn like a phoenix from the ashes. If only—

Paul Bäumer was killed on October of 1918, a day so calm that the army reported, “All quiet on the Western front.”

The last days of Paul Bäumer’s life were lived in sorrow and agony since he did not have a place to call his own and was shunned mentally by all but the battlefront. War had maimed his entire character, and because of this, he was forced to continue living his days as a soldier since he could find no other trade to suit his character. Due to war, Paul Bäumer’s aspirations were drowned in cold and emotionless pain; he detached himself from his feelings in order to seek harmony yet, this only brought him more pain. When he went on leave to his hometown, Paul could not fit in with the people due to his transformation in war, ultimately exemplifying his toughened character and lack of emotion. When Paul Bäumer died on the Western front, all his sorrow and agony died with him. He yearned for a release of his misery since he could not deal with himself any longer; he was an alien to everything but war itself. His final hours in war represent the life of a soldier who was torn from his boyhood in order to serve a cause which was formulated by politicians. This cause ultimately ended by destroying Paul’s life and transforming him into a ruthless savage who sought to kill the enemy and live to survive another day on the battlefront.

“Everyone talks of peace and armistice.” (Remarque 293).

Armistice- An agreement by belligerents to suspend military operations.

“All that meets me, all that floods over me are but feelings—greed for life, love of home, yearning for the blood, intoxication of deliverance.” (Remarque 294).

Intoxication- Poisoning: the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance.

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World War I is merely bringing destruction to our youth since the politicians simply send them to other countries and force them to fight a battle which they are oblivious to, ultimately causing an entire generation to suffer the repercussions of war. This particular characteristic of war is witnessed in the cartoon since it depicts a training riding into oblivion and killing hundreds of soldiers in the process. This illustration emphasizes upon the fact that war does not solve anything and simply consists of young men who are tossed into oblivion through war and have their lives corrupted for a meaningless cause. Furthermore, another detail in the cartoon which further amplifies this fact is the young soldiers falling out of the train due to their large numbers. This illustration exemplifies the government’s tactic of manpower and exposes its foolish purpose since all the soldiers drafted into the war merely end up dead, ultimately mocking the purpose of war and country issues. In conclusion, World War I is bring destruction to the younger and older generation of soldiers since they are all sent into battle to die for a foolish purpose, ultimately forcing the people of a society to suffer the ramifications of war.

Through this chapter I have learned that the effects of war upon society are staggering and that all individuals who associate with war experience a character change which causes them to become indifferent and emotionless. This character development occurs since emotions and feelings merely limit the ability of a soldier and cause him to die in battle since they cannot contain their emotions. Without emotions, a soldier can survive and fight another day on the battlefront. Yet, fighting another day on the battlefront only means more problems and battles, ultimately creating an inane cycle of death and insanity. A soldier must detach themselves from their feelings and emotions in order to survive in war which is why Paul Bäumer becomes so cold and indifferent as his character progresses through the book. No matter how much a society paints war and dresses it with honors and patriotism, war will always include killing and destruction which ultimately causing mental and physical insanity within an individual.