All Quiet on the Western Front
Study Guides



Chapter 1

1. Why do the men receive double rations? German soldiers need double rations because they have fought for fourteen days
2. What makes the men happy and satisfied? (in the story) The thought of being able to eat as much as they want, smoke, sleep
3. How do Kropp, Paul and Muller enjoy the afternoon? They pull boxes together, read their mail, and smoke. They also play Skat, a three man card game
4. Why did the boys enlist in the army? Because there high school teacher had glorified war and talked them into fighting for the fatherland
5. Who was Joseph Behm and what happened to him? He was one of the boys classmates and he was killed in the war (shot in the eye and couldn’t see and stood up in the line of fire). He didn’t really want to join the army
6. What do the men now think of Kantorek and others who hold his same beliefs? They all blame Kantorek for their misery and they hate him
7. Describe Kemmerich. He is a friend of Baumers, and his leg has been amputated. He is upset because he frets that someone from the hospital has stolen his watch.
8. What is shown in the scene with the orderly? Paul and Muller bribe the orderly for morphine for Kemmerichs pain.

Chapter 2

1. What did Paul often do in the evenings before the war? He used to write poetry
2. How do Paul and the other young men differ from the older soldiers? The older soldiers have jobs and families to which they can return after the war, but the younger men have nothing; the war has become their entire lives
3. What did the men learn as new recruits? They learned how to become soldiers. Fight, clean, take orders
4. What were they forced to do in the training camp? They are forced to work hard and train to fight
5. What does death look like in Franz Kemmerich? It looks slow and very painful
6. What is the doctor’s and the orderly’s attitude toward Kemmerich’s death? That it is like every other death in the war
7. Why does Paul run away from the hospital? What does he feel? He feels upset but knows he cannot dwell on his friends death otherwise he will probably going insane

Chapter 3

1. Kropp calls the new reinforcements infants
2. What is Katczinsky’s talent? He can get things out of nothing
3. What type of food does Kat find in this chapter? Two loaves of bread and a bag of horse meat also trades 2 parachutes and gets a half tin of beans.
4. What is Kropp’s idea of how wars should be fought? Save timeand trouble if the 2 generals get in the ring and fight it out them selves.
5. Why does Tjaden hate Himmelstoss? because he was abused by him more than anyone else during training and self education was also abused.
6. Describe the way that the soldiers "jump" Himmelstoss. Paul, Haie, Kropp, and Tjaden waited for him one dark night when he was coming back from the pub, pulled a bed-cover over his head, pulled his pants down, and beat him with a whip. Haie punched him twice in the head, and the boys ran away
7. "Revenge is black pudding."

Chapter 4

1. How does the arrival at the front affect the soldier’s physical appearance? They all grow alert and watchful, and they are tense with fear
2. What symbolism does the earth have for the soldiers? he buries his body in it for shelter, and it receives him every time he throws himself down in a fold, furrow, or hollow
3. What allows the men to survive? Their ability to become human animals
4. What must be done on a wiring fatigue? men have to gather large spools of barbed wire and carry them to the pioneer camp were they are unraveled and set up
5. What does the cry of the horses represent? The men hear the wrenching sounds of wounded horses shrieking in agony, After the wounded men are gathered, those in charge of shooting the wounded animals do their job
6. What is ironic about using the cemetery for cover? The people in it are already dead
7. What do Kat and Paul nearly do to the recruit with the hip wound? Why? They nearly shoot him, so he will die a much less painful death than suffering from his hip would and slowly dieing
8. Why does Paul say the rain falls in their hearts? rain is gloomy and they’re gloomy in the battlefield

Chapter 5

1. How do the men kill lice? Scraping them off into a tin and heating the tin with a flame
2. What does Himmelstoss expect from the group of men? To tell them were Tjaden is hiding
3. Why does Himmelstoss want to have Tjaden court-maritalled? Insubordination
4. What is the status of Paul’s class (in the war)? Out of 20, 7 dead, 4 wounded, 1 insane
5. What does school have to do with the boy’s lives now? It is all they have left
6. What will the men’s lives be like when they return to society? There lives are over, and the war is all they have
7. How does Kropp make Himmelstoss angry? Kropp insults Himmelstoss
8. What types of arrest are used in the German army? They receive an amount of days to stay in a makeshift jail
9. What is the similarity between Kat and Paul’s goose escapade and the war? They had to fight a dog for the goose
10. Why do they save the goose feathers? To make pillows
11. What is ever-present in the men’s lives? Fear of death, threat of dying.
12. What special feeling does Paul have for Kat? (don’t be silly) Paul feels intimate for Kat and feels close to him


Chapter 6

1. How efficient is the German army?
Not very efficient at all because not well supplied.
2. What are the men awaiting?
The artillery to stop so they can get attacked
3. How does Chance rule their lives?
It is chance if a missile hits them and blows them up.
4. Why do they call the rats "corpse-rats"?
The rats live off the corpses of the dead men were fat and ugly and were symbolic of death.
5. How do the men end the rat attacks?
They put bread crumbs in a pile and beat the rats to death.
6. What foreshadows a rough battle for the men?
The constant shelling by the British and French; lack of food.
7. Why do the men use spades rather than bayonets?
The bayonets sometimes stick in the men's stomachs and break too.
8. How does the bombardment wear on the men?
They start to get nervous and go insane.
9. Describe the recruit's fit.
One runs out of the trench, another bangs his head against the trench.
10. How are the attackers described?
They are men just like them and they seem to come out of the fog.
11. Why does Paul hesitate before throwing the grenade?
He looks into the eyes of the man he is about to kill.
12. How do the men react after waiting days for this attack?
They react like blood thirsty hounds and attack and kill.
13. How de the men react to the wounded?
They act as if nothing has happened and help those that they can.
14. What do the men take from the French before returning to their lines?
They take the French parachutes.
15. What are Paul's memories while he stands sentry duty?
He thinks about home and his family.
16. How have Paul's feelings toward his memories changed?
He has seen young men die every day about.
17. Why do the soldiers search so thoroughly for a wounded man?
They can hear him crying out to them because he is still alive.
18. What happens to the dead?
They get left of thrown into a pit.
19. Why do the soldiers search for driving bands and parachutes?
So they can send them back home for dresses for the women.
20. How has nature reacted to the war?
Nature has gone on the same during the war as before it.
21. Why are the reinforcements killed so rapidly?
They are unprepared for what is happening to them.
22. What happens to Himmelstoss during the attack?
He becomes afraid and starts to bark like a dog at Paul.
23. How well do the new recruits learn front-line warfare?
They do not learn it well at all.
24. What is the result after days of fighting?
They lose some ground and a lot of men.

Chapter 7
1. How do Himmelstoss and the men reconcile?
Himmelstoss realizes that they all could die at the front. When he replaces the cook, he gives the men extra rations and easy cookhouse duty.
2. Why do the soldiers forget about the front-line fighting when they are behind the lines?
They don't want to remember how horrible it is up there when they don't have too.
3. Why do the men only rest behind the front?
That is the only place that they can rest at all.
4. What does Paul say will happen with memories of the front after the war?
They will always be with him and he will never be able to get rid of them.
5. Why are the men interested in the theater poster?
It has a picture of a beautiful women on it.
6. How does Paul feel when he has nothing to remind him of being a soldier?
He feels out of place.
7. Why is Paul unhappy after the evening with the women?
He started to think about other things while it was going on.
8. Why is beer more than just a drink?
Food and drink are very scarce during the war time.
9. How does the Frenchwoman react to Paul's leave?
She acts as if nothing has happened at all.
10. How does the red-cross sister act toward Paul?
She acts as if he is her comrade and a hero to her.
11. Why does Paul cry when he arrives home?
He hasn't been home for a very long time and misses it.
12. Why does Paul feel strange in his own home?
He is only used to fighting and sleeping outside.
13. Why does Paul lie to his mother about the reality of war?
He doesn't want to scare her and he knows that she can't understand.
14. Why do the major and Paul conflict?
Paul doesn't salute or address the major properly.
15. Why does Paul change into civilian clothes?
Paul wants to blend in and not have to deal with the major again.
16. Why can't Paul talk to his father about the war?
His father only wants to know how many people he's killed and if he's had hand to hand combat.
17. What is the headmaster's opinion of the war?
He thinks that he knows everything and how to win the war.
18. What does Paul realize about the people around him?
That they have no clue at all what is going on out there.
19. What happens when Paul tries to retrieve his familiarity with his books?
More memories come back and he can't bear to read them.
20. How does Mittelstaedt treat Kantorek?
He is brutal to him for all the things that he has done to them.
21. What is leave to Paul?
Leave is something that he should have never had.
22. What does Paul tell Kemmerich's mother about her son's death?
He tells her that he died instantly and without pain.
23. Why can't Paul understand Mrs. Kemmerich's anguish?
Paul is used to people dieing out there everyday and it doesn't even phase him.
24. What does Paul wish for as his mother speaks to him on his last night home?
He wishes that they could just die together right then and there.
25. Why does Paul regret coming home on leave?
Every day that passes is one day less he has to spend with his family. People also keep on bombarding him with questions



Chapter 8

1. What does Paul observe during training drills?
He observes the sand which is consisted of many pebbles that look like they have been made in a laboratory.
2. What does Paul think of the Russians?
He thinks they look like meek, scolded, St. Bernard dogs.
3. How do many of the Germans treat the Russians? How do they trade with them?
Many of them just ignore them but some kick them. They trade by holding a piece of bread or sausage under a Russian’s nose and taunt them.
4. How do the Russians differ from the Germans?
The Russians feel that they are more unfortunate than the Germans.
5. Why does Paul not feel more sympathetic toward the Russian prisoners?
He doesn’t feel sympathetic because they are a suffering creature.
6. Why are these men enemies?
They are enemies because a word of command has made them that and a word of command can also make them their friends.
7. What is Paul’s sole aim?
Paul’s sole aim is to keep the Russians in prison until the war has ended.
8. Why doesn’t Paul’s father ask the surgeon about the cost of the operation?
Paul’s father doesn’t ask about the cost of the operation because the surgeon might take it amiss.

Chapter 9

1. What is a flying division?
They are putting the hottest action; there is a high casualty rate.
2. How does Paul feel when he finds his friends?
He is happy.
3. How does the army prepare for the Kaiser’s visit?
They are given new uniforms and more inspections.
4. According to the men, why does war exist?
Because twenty to thirty men said yes.
5. What is the difference between the volunteers and the drafted soldiers?
Volunteer soldiers are smarter.
6. What do trench mortars do to soldiers?
It blows their clothes off.
7. Why is Paul afraid on patrol?
He is alone in the dark and is helpless and lonely.
8. What does friendship mean to Paul?
A lot of comfort.
9. How is Paul’s fear different as he tries to get back to his friends?
Getting hit by a shell.
10. What is the new fear that holds Paul?
Finding that his friends are bombarded and they being attacked.
11. What does Paul do when the French soldier stumbles into his shell hole?
He almost stabs him without thinking about it
12. Why doesn’t Paul leave the shell hole after he has stabbed the Frenchman?
Because there is a machine gun spray right above his shell hole.
13. How does Paul react to the dying Frenchman?
He is nauseated and helps the Frenchman and relate to him.
14. How does the Frenchman look at Paul?
They stare at him in a way that won’t let him kill them.
15. What does Paul do for the Frenchman?
He helps them, makes them feel more comfortable, and gives them water.
16. Why does Paul think he must bandage the wounds?
So if he is captured by the French, they will see that he helped the wounded Frenchman.
17. What does this hand-to-hand killing do to Paul?
It drives him mad.
18. What does Paul say and realize in his madness?
He says he will not do it again.
19. What does Paul promise when he is calmer?
He promises he will help the frenchmens’ families by writing to them and giving them money.
20. What does Paul think of this experience after he is safe?
He thinks about a printer.
21. How does Sergeant Oellrich react to killing?
He enjoys it and says another kid is another point and he may be promoted for it.

Chapter 10

1. Where are the men stationed?
The men are stationed at a small village.
2. Why do they set up an idyll of eating and sleeping?
They set up an idyll of eating and sleeping so they can make the most of every opportunity.
3. How do the men get caught under fire and bombing?
The men get caught under fire and bombing because the enemy observation balloons spotted the smoke from their chimney.
4. How do the men guard the supplies?
The men guard the supplies by
5. How do the men react to all the luxury?
The men are very happy with all the luxurious things.
6. What do the men take back to the front with them?
The men take cigars and other things they found in the village.
7. What happens to Paul when the bombing begins?
Paul scatters but feels the instinctive alertness.
8. How are Paul and Kropp able to save themselve?
Paul and Kropp are able to save themselves by swinging over a hedge
9. What does Kropp decide about his wounded leg?
Kropp doesn’t want to be a cripple.
10. How does Paul react in surgery?
Paul experiences a lot of pain and tries to resist.
11. How do Kropp and Paul manage to stay together?
They bribe the sergeant-major.
12. Why doesn’t Paul want to get into bed?
Paul doesn’t want to get into bed because he doesn’t want it to get dirty.
13. How does Paul get off the train with Albert?
Paul gets off the train with Albert by faking a fever.
14. Why are the hospital patients angry at being awakened in the morning?
The hospital patients are angry about being awakened in the morning because they have just fallen asleep at the time they say prayers.
15. How do the men get the doors shut?
The men get the doors shut by throwing things out the door.
16. Why does Josef Hamacher claim he threw the bottle?
Josef Hamacher claims to have thrown the bottle because he has a shooting license.
17. What is the dying room?
The dying room is named that because this is where people go where they are going to die and the hospital people don’t have to do as much work.
18. What does Josef warn the boys with flat feet against?
Josef warns the boys with flat feet against the chief surgeon.
19. What happens to Albert?
Albert gets his leg amputated.
20. What does Paul think of the world as he views the wounded?
Of all the thousands and millions of hospitals just like this one but this one alone can represent the damage of the war.
21. How does Paul view himself and his generation?
A lost generation, he doesn't know what their parents will expect of them.
22. Where does Paul go from the hospital?
Back to war

Chapter 11

1. How do the men see the war now?
They compare the war to cancer or a disease.
2. What are the men’s lives and thoughts like?
Things that existed before are not valid and their lives are hanged extremely
3. What brotherhood do the men feel?
They are soldiers but at the same time individual men.
4. What is life (to them)?
Survival
5. How are men like a flame?
They are artificial
6. What does Detering do?
He runs away and tries to get back to Germany.
7. What is happening to the German lines?
They are becoming elastic.
8. How does Bertinck save his men?
He gets out of the trench to shoot the people with flamethrowers.
9. What is the summer of 1918 like?
Bloody and terrible.
10. Are the Germans beaten?
No, bruised and overwhelmed, they are still better soldiers.
11. What is Paul’s reaction to Kat’s injury?
Paul’s reaction is to carry him back to get help.
12. Why do Paul and Kat exchange addresses?
Because they will be separated.
13. Why does Paul repeat to himself twice that he and Kat are not related?
They aren’t really related.
Chapter 12

1. What does Paul want after the armistice?
Peace
2. What are the fates of the various generations?
Pauls generation will be forgotten and rejected
3. Why is the book titled All Quiet on the Western Front?
In 1918, it is all quiet on the western front
4. Why does the book describe Paul’s face as calm?
He is finally at peace because the war is over