All Quiet On The Western Front Epigraph Analysis

The epigraph in All Quiet on the Western Front states that soldiers,“even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by war.” Many soldiers died or suffered physical injuries from fighting in World War One. The ones who didn’t came out of the war mentally or emotionally damaged. The war resulted in diseases, mental disorders, and a loss of a soldier’s humanity and innocence. Many soldiers fighting in the war suffered diseases from terrible trench and living conditions. The trenches were unsanitary and rats and lice helped spread diseases. In such close quarters, illnesses such as the cold, fever, or tuberculosis spread quickly. Cold, wet weather resulted in injuries becoming more infected and a disease known as trench foot, which could lead to amputation (Duffy).The soldiers got little sleep and had no clean clothing. Food and water were also limited. During a battle, soldiers had could have no food or water for days, leading to starvation or dehydration.

During a battle, soldiers had to kill each other, which is something they normally wouldn’t do. They witnessed the death of comrades and close friends. Soldiers suffered extreme injuries, some resulting in amputation, causing them to barely avoid death. Many experienced nightmares because of events from the war. These traumatic experiences resulted in mental disorders such as depression or shell shock, which is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. In World War One, soldiers suffering from shell shock were considered cowardly and weak. This mental disorder results in severe anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and hallucinations, and four-fifths of men were not able to return to the