All Quiet On The Western Front Essay

On all Quiet on the Western Front, there were several notions that the new recruits were not equipped with the precise knowledge or abilities to accurately fight in the war; without immediately dying. For instance, they were not aware of the chemical timings and procedures, how to cover from bombing and gun fire, and the timings of when to fire themselves. In addition, Peck stated, “at least 95 percent of the men going off to risk their very lives did not even have the slightest knowledge of what the war was about” (page 392). This was caused by the societies from which these boys came from, ideally forcing them into war through social norms. The culture within one’s nation when war arose was that males go and fight for their loved ones and for their nation and if they refused they were seen as cowards and taken to war anyway. Through this method of ‘enrollment’ in the military,

Boys completely transformed into men during the war and left with ever lasting memories. These memories were the stated environments for the soldiers, as well as, the head games and “shell shock” that presented itself immensely. Even years after the war thousands of soldiers still had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attempted electric shocking, therapy, and returning to the military to ‘cure’ themselves. Looking back on how the soldiers suffered throughout the war; I necessarily do not think that they will ever rid themselves of their PTSD. The individuals that we send into combat, experience events and situations that us; civilians, could ultimately never understand. Hence, we are not even remotely able to relate to what the soldiers have been through with our mere lives. Us civilians can always try to understand and relate to their experience the best we can, but in reality, we will never fully understand; why they leave alive and always come back