All Quiet on the Western Front Book Discussion Kit

Considered by many the greatest war novel of all time, All Quiet on the Western Front is Erich Maria Remarque’s masterpiece of the German experience during World War I.I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. . . .This is the testament of Paul Bäumer, who enlists with his classmates in the German army during World War I. They become soldiers with youthful enthusiasm. But the world of duty, culture, and progress they had been taught breaks in pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches.Through years of vivid horror, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principle of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against one another . . . if only he can come out of the war alive.“The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure.”—The New York Times Book Review SUMMARY: Paul Baumer enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Youthful, enthusiastic, they become soldiers. But despite what they have learned, they break into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. And as horrible war plods on year after year, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principles of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other--if only he can come out of the war alive. ''The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first trank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure.'' -THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

paul Baumer Enlisted With His Classmates In The German Army Of World War I. Youthful, Enthusiastic, They Become Soldiers. But Despite What They Have Learned, They Break Into Pieces Under The First Bombardment In The Trenches. And As Horrible War Plods On Year After Year, Paul Holds Fast To A Single Vow: To Fight Against The Principles Of Hate That Meaninglessly Pits Young Men Of The Same Generation But Different Uniforms Against Each Other—if Only He Can Come Out Of The War Alive.
the World Has A Great Writer In Erich Maria Remarque. He Is A Craftsman Of Unquestionably First Trank, A Man Who Can Bend Language To His Will. Whether He Writes Of Men Or Of Inanimate Nature, His Touch Is Sensitive, Firm, And Sure.
the New York Times Book Review

Tells the story of Paul B̈äumer, a soldier who joined the German army shortly after the start of World War I. B̈äumer arrives at the Western front with his friends and meets Stanislaus Katczinsky, an older soldier, nicknamed Kat, who becomes Paul's mentor. Tells of the conditions in which the soldiers find themselves -- the brutality of war. The monotony between battles, the constant threat of artillery fire, the struggle to find food, and the overarching role of random chance in the lives and deaths of the soldiers are described in detail This is the testament of Paul Baümer, who enlists with his classmates in the German army of World War I. They become soldiers with youthful enthusiasm. But the world of work, duty, culture, and progress they had been taught breaks into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. Through years of vivid horror, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principle of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other, if only he can come out of the war alive This is the testament of Paul Bäumer, who enlists with his classmates in the German army of World War I. These young men become enthusiastic soldiers, but their world of duty, culture, and progress breaks into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. Through years of vivid horror, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the hatred that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against one another... if only he can come out of the war alive. One by one the boys begin to fall In 1914 a room full of German schoolboys, fresh-faced and idealistic, are goaded by their schoolmaster to troop off to the glorious war. With the fire and patriotism of youth they sign up. What follows is the moving story of a young unknown soldier experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches. Paul Bäumer is just 19 years old when he and his classmates enlist. They are Germany's Iron Youth who enter the war with high ideals and leave it disillusioned or dead. Paul watches his Second Company --150 men strong-- reduced in a single battle to 32 weary survivors.-- (Source of description not identified) Depicts the experiences of a group of young German soldiers fighting and suffering during the last days of World War I.