Paul reflects on his life before the war. He used to write poetry as a young boy. He believes that his short time in the army …show more content…
This job is extremely dangerous. The sounds of gunfire and shells frighten the new recruits. After finishing their job, they are bombarded. A young recruit is terrified. Paul puts a helmet on his to protect him. After the bombardment dies down, the recruit realised that he had defecated in his pants. Paul instructs him to throw his underpants away. As the trucks drive them back, more bombs land around them (gas bombs). Paul applies his own mask and helps others to apply theirs. After some time, he tears his mask off to breathe fresh air. He notices a recruit lying on the floor with in injured hip (the bone is showing). This recruit was the same recruit that he helped earlier. Kat whispers to Paul that it would be a lot better to shoot him as he will not survive after this injury. Before they can do this, more soldiers emerge from their cover. Paul shows the readers the unsanitary conditions of life in the army (up front) as he has lice. Himmelstoss had been caught tormenting many of the new recruits, so as a punishment, he was sent to the front lines. Müller begins to ask the group what they would do if the war ended that day. Himmelstoss arrives at camp and orders Tjaden to stand. Tjaden moons him instead, running away to hide from the authorities which Himmelstoss will bring. Tjaden is caught, but is given a soft punishment with 3 days in prison. Kropp is sentenced to one day in prison. Kat and Paul kill …show more content…
He becomes lost on is way back and is forced to pretend to be dead in a shell hole. An enemy soldier jumps into the same hole and Paul instinctively stabs him. He realises that the man is not dead. He bandages him and gives him water. He dies in a matter of hours Paul feels extremely guilty and realises that the man had children. He feels that he must send money to that family anonymously. He tells Kat and Kropp what he did and they tell home that he would've either died, or killed the man. The men are assigned to guard a supply depot. They are given a large quantity of food. They start to cook their food. The enemy notices the smoke and starts to bomb the house. Paul and Kropp are injured by some shells. In the hospital, Paul believes that a hospital is the best place to visualise the terror of war. He heals well and returns home to see his mum who seems to be sicker than before. The German is slowly being weakened. Deterring tries to flee and is captured as a 'deserter'. Müller is shot in the abdomen and died 30 minutes later. Paul later receives Kemmerich's boots. Kat was wounded after scavenging for food. Paul cannot leave him as Kat is bleeding too much. Paul has to carry him to the dressing station. When he reaches the station, he realises that Kat is dead as he was struck by some shrapnel from a