All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

Introduction

Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) was a German author who served in the army during World War I, and his personal experiences are reflected in this novel. The antimilitary and antiestablishment tone in this and the author's other work did not sit well with the Nazis when they came to power, and Remarque's novels were banned in his homeland (Barker and Last, 1979). Fortunately, he had moved to Switzerland shortly after All Quiet on the Western Front was published, and he spent the rest of his life either there or in the United States.

Discussion

The prospect of an exciting adventure is generally considered to be a positive thing, but that is not always the case, particularly when the odds are that you will not survive the experience. The young heroes of this novel initially join the army under the impression that they are embarking on a romantic quest, that they will be honoured by their country as they risk their lives in its defence, after which they will all return home to live happily ever after. They are disabused of this notion quite early when they find themselves serving under a sadistic non-commissioned officer, and when they reach the front they watch their friends suffer and die under horrible conditions.

The battle scenes are particularly vivid. Trench warfare consists of massive bombardments followed by frontal assaults and counterattacks. Remarque's protagonist, Paul Baumer, endures conditions that drive some of his fellow soldiers mad. The artillery fire is so intense at times that it seems as though the earth itself is the source of the violence. After one French assault fails, Baumer takes part in a counterattack that drives the French from their trenches, after which the men plunder the French supplies before returning to ...