Summary: All Quiet On The Western Front

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Natasha Sierra Dr. Brillman EUH 2030 30 October 2015 All Quiet on the Western Front “All Quiet on the Western Front” is definitely an anti war novel, not only does it display the hardships and bravery of these young men, but it also depicts the true dangers and seriousness of war. This novel explains war from an inside perspective rather than the typical over sight. Remarque depicts a more realistic and raw view of what the soldiers go through rather than glorifying them all as war heroes or honorable men. This book explains the fight and the struggle of very significant German soldiers in WWI. Food was scarce, showers were limited, injuries were not properly taken care of, and hundreds died each day. Paul and his friends were meant to enjoy…show more content…
He was very ignorant and placed pressures on Paul and his classmates to fulfill their “patriotic duty” by enlisting in the German army. After they graduate the boys choose to enlist in order to honor their country as they were taught. On the first day of training, they were appalled to find out that their training officer was Corporal Himmelstoss. Before the war, Himmelstoss was just an ordinary power hungry postman. He continuously put the boys through extreme torturous drills to torment them during their training in order to display his superior power. They had to listen to his every order. At times the boys would be forced to run drills until they collapsed, and when they did they would be punished. Ironically, once the boys finish their training and become soldiers, Himmelstoss becomes nothing more than a soldier himself; they become an equal entity, and an even playing field. After he experiences the horrors of the war, he tries to make amends with…show more content…
Between gas bomb suffocation, flamethrowers, grenades, and guns, it made it nearly impossible to avoid death. As the boys have a day of rest, they sit and dream about their futures. They talk about what they wish to be when they grow up and the lives they could have if they make it out of the war alive. Sadly none of them ever made it that far. One day they were riding though the town in their army vehicles when they were attacked by a bomb strike. Behm passed away on impact and Albert Kroop lost his leg. Paul was also injured and had to relearn how to walk again before he could return. Albert begins to get jealous of Paul’s quick recovery and wants to commit suicide but Paul doesn’t give up on him, he try’s to support him as best he can. While in the catholic hospital Josef informs the others about the so called “Dying Room”. It was a separate space across from the mortuary where seriously ill and injured patients are taken to die. The men are lied too and told that it is just a bandaging room. Later that evening Peter is taken to the dying room against his will but later returns in triumph. Paul then receives 16 days leave and returns home, but quickly returned to the army base because he did not feel like be belonged there anymore. As the Novel goes on, so does the sorrow. More and more deaths approach, more innocent lives are taken. Leer died with a bullet to the chest. Westhus died after being struck in the back
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