Chapter 6: All Quiet on the Western Front

Main Points

• Return to the Frontlines

  • Soldiers pass a bombed-out schoolhouse with fresh coffins outside.
  • Realize the coffins are for them, indicating low morale.
  • British artillery has strengthened; German artillery is failing.

• Conditions in the Trenches

  • Rats have multiplied, eating soldiers' thread.
  • Increased rations signal impending trouble.

• Heavy Fire and Bombardment

  • Soldiers endure heavy fire which depletes their strength.
  • Rations are delayed, leading to hunger.
  • New recruits struggle mentally under the strain.

• Tensions and Combat

  • A new recruit tries to flee, Paul and Kat calm him.
  • Bombardment ends; soldiers engage in combat with hand grenades and machine guns against the French.
  • Soldiers become desensitized, viewing the enemy as death itself.

• Moments of Reflection

  • Paul recalls peaceful memories of a Cathedral and poplar grove, a stark contrast to the war.

• Casualties and Psychological Strain

  • Dead and wounded pile up.
  • New recruits often die quickly due to inexperience.

• Confrontation with Corporal Himmelstoss

  • Paul catches Himmelstoss faking an injury.
  • Forces Himmelstoss back into combat.

• Notable Observations

  • The change of seasons from summer to autumn marks the passage of time.
  • Only 32 men out of an original 150 remain in Paul's company.
  • Describes the brutal reality and absurdity of trench warfare.
  • War is focused on wearing down the enemy, not outright victory.
  • The front is likened to a cage where death and destruction feel inevitable.