All Quiet On The Western Front Summary

All Quiet on the Western Front is about World War I and the effects it had not only on the world but on the “Lost Generation” and their outlook on life. The book is from the point of view of Paul Baumer, who fights in the war on Germany’s side. Paul like many young men of the time joined the army. This is probably because he and his friends were influenced by their patriotic teacher to join. Paul and his peers start out almost enthusiastic and proud to serve. This of course is before the harsh training and going through the horrors of war. They start to learn the harsh reality of war soon enough. After about the second week of fighting. Paul and his peers return from the front. However, less of them are even alive to return. Of the One hundred

He isn’t the same when he returns home, and feels that he can’t discuss his experiences in the war with his family or say what he really thinks. On top of all of this, he learns that his mother has cancer. A definite death sentence at the time that this book was written. He also visits Kemmerich’s mother and in order to comfort her, he says that her son’s death was quick and painless.
Paul returns to the front and his peers. The Kaiser visits the front, and the men are let down with what they see. The man that they are fighting for and who they thought of as almost a godly figure turns out to be short and a weak pathetic voice. This fits the theme of the book very well. In another battle, Paul is separated from his men and hides in a shell hole. A French soldier jumps into the hole too and so Paul stabs him. Paul feels guilt for this as he realizes that the French man is just as much of a victim of war as he is. It makes matters worse that the man had a family at home.
In the next battle, Paul and a peer called Kropp are injured and taken to the hospital. Paul has surgery and is given a short leave, during which he becomes depressed. He returns to the company soon