Paul Bäumer's All Quiet On The Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front Is a Novel told from the perspective of Nineteen year old Paul Bäumer, a German Soldier who joins the war effort on the French front during World War I. Bäumer and a few friends get the idea to join the military after listening to patriotic speeches from their previous teacher, however quickly forsake these ideologies after experiencing the horrors of warfare on the front. After two weeks of horrific combat, a staggering eighty men of the original 150-man company return. The cook chooses not to give the survivors the leftover rations that were meant for the dead men but after some convincing eventually decides to do so, and the men are treated a large meal. Later, Bäumer and a group of friends friends visit Kemmerich, a former classmate who has recently became an amputee after contracting gangrene. Kemmerich is dying, and Müller, another former classmate, wants to keep Kemmerich’s boots for himself. Bäumer does not consider Müller insensitive; like the other soldiers do, in fact, Müller simply realizes that Kemmerich will no longer require shoes, let alone possessions.. Soon After, the company is caught in the midst of a gruesome battle with a large group of Allied infantry. Men are beheaded left
He feels as though he does not belong here anymore, in addition, he is unable to discuss his traumatic experiences with anyone, thus deepening the divide growing within him. Bäumer learns of his mother's dire condition, and that she may not have long to live. Kantorek, his old teacher, had also been drafted into the military, which seemed to please Bäumer. Bäumer then visits Kemmerich’s mother and lies to her, stating that her son’s death was quick and that he did not feel any pain. Towards the end of his leave, Bäumer spent time with Russian Prisoners of war, and comes to the conclusion that the enemy he had been fighting were just like