All Quiet On The Western Front Sparknotes

All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque. While this book is a work of realistic fiction, Remarque himself served in the German army during World War I. The work highlights what soldiers fighting in this war had to endure, including trench warfare, unsanitary conditions, and their own mental state. The men begin their journey as youthful, enthusiastic soldiers, but by the end they are forever changed and stripped of their innocence.
The story is narrated by a soldier named Paul Bäumer, who is nineteen years-old. In his company he is joined by some of his classmates: Leer, Müller, and Kropp. There are other soldiers who will be important to the story, such as Tjaden, Haie Westhus, Detering, and Katczinsky (Kat). The

The soldiers are then met with a bombardment and scramble to take shelter. Paul, along with Kat and Kropp, take cover in a shell-hole. This is commonly seen because a shell will usually not hit the same place twice. The men soon realize the enemies have released mustard gas and must put on their masks. The men wait, and the bombardment ceases. After the attack, the men are able to collect themselves. Müller begins to ask his comrades what they would do when the war ends. The older men like Kat and Detering mention their lives and family back home. The younger men have a less optimistic outlook. Kropp in particular mentions how the war has destroyed everything for

However, his leave is not as calming as one would expect. Paul’s mother is sick with cancer. Additionally, the population is going hungry and resources run scarce. Paul is also given the difficult task in telling Kemmerich’s mother about his death. She begs Paul to tell her how her son died. He lies and tells her his death was quick and painless. On his last night home, Paul’s mother sits by his bedside. She is in great pain with her illness. He wishes he never came home. Paul’s leave ends and he attends the training camp. The camp is located next to a prison for captured Russian soldiers. He begins to feel sorry for them, especially when witnessing the emotional connection between the prisoners in such poor conditions. Before he returns to the front, Paul’s father and eldest sister pay him a visit. They give him some food, but he is too depressed to eat and gives some of the food to the Russian