All Quiet On The Western Front Comparison Essay

Whenever you hear about World War I or World War II, you hear of the struggles and triumphs of the British, Americans or any of the other Allies. And they always speak of the evil and ruthless German army. In contrast, All Quiet on the Western Front gives the reader some information and a look at a group of German friends who are fighting in World War I. The soldiers of this war didn’t quite know what they were fighting for. Most of the soldiers were pulled from their childhood, and tossed into a world of hate and war. Somehow, some of them still managed to have faith in humanity and could not look the enemy in the eye and kill him. They couldn’t do this, because the enemies were also pulled from their home and families for the same reasons

They didn 't feel heroic because they did not hate the French nor the British. Therefore they lacked zeal to fight the war and did not fit the title of hero, they clung on to their life at all times. An example of Paul hiding during an attack shows his fear of death. “ I lie huddled in a large shell-hole, my legs in the water up to the belly. When the attack starts I will let myself fall into the water, with my face as deep in the mud as I can keep it without suffocating. I must pretend to be dead.” These soldiers went to extremes to save themselves from the raging war. Not only soldiers but officers of the army had come under the great influence of fear. During one scene, under a heavy attack Paul sees a petrified Himmelstoss who is crouching in a corner. “Get out!” I spit. He doesn 't not stir, his lips quiver, his moustache twitches. “Out!” i repeat. He draws up his legs, crouches back against the wall, and shows his teeth like a cur.” If officers of the army overcame with such great fear, naturally the young recruits would be horrified as well. Unprepared and still innocent the recruits stared at the world in front of them with blank faces. Paul describes this during a front line attack. “Their pale turnip faces, their pitiful clenched hands, the fine courage of these poor devils, the desperate charges and attacks made by the poor brave wretches, who are so terrified that they dare not cry out loudly, but with battered chests, with torn bellies, arms and legs only whimper softly for their mothers and cease as soon as one looks at them.” Paul believes they have no business fighting the war. For they are merely easy targets for the