All Quiet On The Western Front By Erich Maria Remarque

WWI was a European war that occurred between 1914 and 1918 and took over 17 million lives. The war began after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand by a terrorist group fueled by nationalism. Countries entered the war as a result of contractual agreements with other nations and increasing competition for military power and imperialized colonies while individual soldiers felt inspired by the glorification of the war and a sense of pride in fighting for their country. The novel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque explores the experiences and motivations of these soldiers and how it affected them emotionally and psychologically, specifically German soldiers fighting in the Western Front. Most individuals thought that WWI was

going to be a battle full of glory and success for their own personal country. However, the war resulted in the dehumanization and loss of innocence for soldiers and the expansion of fascism along with a destroyed German economy.
During WWI, one of the harsh consequences for soldiers was the loss of their humanity, as it forced them to let go of their human emotions by leaving them with only animal instincts of survival.

While Paul and his comrades fight on the front lines, Paul narrates, “We have become wild beasts...It is not against men that we fling our bombs, what do we know of men in this moment when Death is hunting us down.” (Remarque 113). “Beasts” are known to rely and live by survival, and the connotation of the word “beast” implies a sense of savagery and barbarity. This prioritization of pure survival for Paul, simply being a “beast”, then neglects other humanizing proponents. These proponents include emotions of shame and guilt because of the deaths of these enemy soldiers. This neglect follows up with, “what do we know of men in this moment when Death is hunting us down.” The personification of death in this quote paints it as a physical threat within that moment. During the previous portion of the quote, “what do we know of men” is truly where the disconnect between the soldiers’ sense of humanity and their need to survive occurs as a juxtaposition between the enemy soldiers and death itself. One is viewed as frivolous and insignificant, “men” are human-beings that one can feel an emotional connection towards. However, “death” is a dire threat within that moment. They must view these individuals as nothing but obstacles and enemies to be overcome. The shame and guilt of taking

another life becomes forcibly repressed, giving men an easier incentive to hurt one another. The need to live is more powerful than following one’s natural moral obligations to never slay another soul.
The second major consequence for soldiers was the loss of innocence and youth.

While Paul stands as a sentry one night, his mind wanders and he narrates, “Today we would pass through the scenes of our youth like travellers. We are burnt up by hard facts; like tradesmen we understand distinctions, and like butchers, necessities. We are no longer untroubled-we are indifferent...We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men...I believe we are lost” (Remarque 122). Paul “would pass through the scenes of our youth like travellers,” as in the mindsets that they once had before the war are now foreign to them. The author’s diction of the word “youth” depicts that mentality as containing hopefulness and a strong sense of a moral compass. Yet, Remarque continues on and illustrates that disappearance of hope and moral obligations as a soldier. Paul supports this by describing himself as “no longer untroubled-we are indifferent”. While younger, the virtues that he had might have distressed him emotionally since he constantly kills others as a soldier. Yet, now he is "indifferent" or no longer cares about these many deaths. Remarque supports this with the simile, “like tradesmen we understand distinctions, and like butchers, necessities.” While killing an animal might appear morally wrong, a butcher is forced to kill the animal anyway just to live another day. Similar to soldiers, as they must constantly kill others to survive, a mentally daunting task that a “youth” with

a strong grip on morals may not possibly be able to perform. Ultimately, he is now “lost”, with this inner turmoil constantly weighing him down, he does not understand how to satisfy his natural ethics as a human-being.
While there were many emotional negative impacts toward soldiers, countries, specifically Germany, became economically devastated. The foundation to their destroyed economy began within the Treaty of Versailles since it required Germany to pay billions of dollars for war reparations due to the guilt clause (Beck). However, Germany did not have the resources to pay these reparations, thus generating an extreme decline in the economic condition of their country (“Hyperinflation and Debt”). The German government attempted to fix this problem by printing more currency, however hyperinflation ensued and the price of essential items escalated steeply (“Hyperinflation and Debt”). As Germany dived deeper into debt, it had to rely more on the United States for loans to heal its broken economy (Beck). The United States faced repercussions to this unsustainable system as well, as eventually The Great Depression occurred within their own country (Beck). Millions of Americans became unemployed, homeless, or malnourished due to helping Germany’s troubled economy (Beck). Germany’s economy turned completely unstable, worsening conditions for the average citizen due to fewer jobs and scarce resources (“Hyperinflation and Debt”). WWI destroyed not just one, but two countries’ economies as a consequence of the reparations Germany had to pay, creating deteriorating conditions and a poorer country overall.
As the economy declined, German citizens looked to an extreme solution and thus the political consequence of fascism emerged. The Treaty of Versailles left many German citizens bitter as their individual lives became devastated by a war they did not choose to participate in (Beck). Adolf Hitler exploited this anger to his advantage, and achieved power with the Nazi party (“Hitler”). WWI easily created a hole for Hitler to gain sovereignty with, yet with the rise of his power came inconceivable consequences for many other countries. Fascism is a political ideology based on totalitarian rule so many freedoms and rights that German citizens should have had were taken away (“Hitler”). Oppression ensued and German citizens could not have a say in their government (“Hitler”). This new political regime spawned concentration camps as well that caused the death and torture of millions of Jewish people (“Hitler”). WWI was a leading cause in these concentration camps, and ultimately ushered in an age of stifled democracy and human rights by enabling the rise of Nazi power to sweep through Germany.
Essentially, WWI was a major devastation physically and emotionally to almost every citizen in Europe. The war’s resolution paved the way for the start of WWII. WWI was supposed to be a solution to increasing tensions between countries, yet it destroyed soldiers’ sense of innocence and eradicated any shred of humanity, while decimating Germany’s economic status and establishing a totalitarian regime of fascism. Although violence can be a quick solution to most conflicts, often-times the backlash that arises with the aftermath can result in repercussions that generates more harm than good in the end.