Life At The Front Analysis

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Pages: 3

Paul describes the horrible unsanitary conditions of life at the front. Tjaden heats up a old tin boot polish tin for the men's lice they pick off their heads. Haie jokes about his lice coming from the hospital by attending the surgeon general because his lice has red crosses upon their heads. Himmelstoss arrives to the front because he was caught torturing recruits excessively and has been sent to the front as punishment for his actions. Muller fires questions to the men in second company about their plans if the war suddenly ends. Kropp believes that war will not end, Kat talks of his wife and children. The younger men of the second company talk about women and getting drunk, Haie talks about becoming a noncommissioned army officer since …show more content…
He orders Tjaden to stand and instead he moons Himmelstoss, Himmelstoss goes to report Tjadens actions. Tjaden fastly scurries off to hide before he arrives back with authorities. Muller proceeds to plunder questions toward the men. The men count that there is only twelve men left out of twenty of the men from their class that joined the military. Seven are dead, four wounded and one that went insane.(Remarque) The men agree that the war has destroyed everything from them they are no longer innocent youths but instead now they are men only thinking about war and trying to survive the harsh conditions and mental thoughts of themselves and others. Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant-major to punish Tjaden. Paul and the others refuse to tell them where Tjaden is hiding. The sergeant-major insisted on fixing the incident by declaring Tjaden to report to the Orderly room in ten minutes. The men resolve their problem by declaring to torment Himmelstoss at every opportunity they get, Himmelstoss later returns demanding the young men report where Tjaden is hiding instead he is insulted by Kropp and again storms off. Later on Kropp and Tjaden are put on trial for insubordination.