Amidst the chaos and terror of war, a soldier needs some sort of comfort to keep him going. Naturally, this comfort is provided by his comrades. When Paul has a panic attack taking cover in a shell-hole, he should be moving forward but he is too afraid. Then he hears the voices of his friends moving along the trench which restores his courage. “At once a new warmth flows through me. These voices, these few quiet words, these footsteps in the trench behind me recall me at a bound from the terrible loneliness and fear of …show more content…
death by which I had been almost destroyed. They are more to me than life, these voices, they are more than motherliness and more than fear; they are the strongest, most comforting thing there is anywhere: they are the voices of my comrades.” (Remarque 212). Paul’s thoughts at this point perfectly represent the sense of comradeship.
The bond shared by soldiers is stronger than that of brothers, best friends, or even lovers.
The horrifying things that they have seen and been through together has drawn them together on intimate levels. Paul states before he goes off on his leave and says goodbye to Kat, "I know their every step and movements; I would recognize them at any distance" (155). Though all the comrades are close, Paul and Kat have a special relationship. Paul looks up to Kat and even sees him as some sort of a father figure. Kat keeps Paul fed at all times and helps him through his despair when needed. Kat also keeps paul alive from gas, bombs and bullets. One of the most meaningful experiences the men share with each other is when they cook the goose. "We sit opposite one another, Kat and I, two soldiers in shabby coats,cooking a goose in the middle of the night. We don't talk much, but I believe we have a complete communion with one another than even lovers have."(94). This moment solidified Paul and Kat’s relationship and drew them closer than the other
comrades.
Though the war had brought about many gruesome circumstances for Paul and his comrades to go through. Luckily the men had each other to bring them up from the darkness and feel in a place of comfort where there was none.