All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front is an anti-war novel and movie that follows a group of German boys who enlist in the army and experience the tragedies of World War I on the Western Front. Early scenes illustrate the roles that militarism and nationalism played in causing the war. The movie then makes clear how the wars new technologies and tactics horrified the young soldiers. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in the 1930s, however,

7. How was Sgt. Himmelstoess received when he arrived at the front?

14. How does Paul Baumer confront his former teacher? How do the young students react to his vision of the war?

8. In the attack, what did the machine gun do to the glory of war and individual heroism?

15. What is ironic about final two deaths in the movie? [Note: The war ended on November 11, 1918.]

they ordered the book burned. The Nazis also tried to keep Germans from seeing the film because it showed the dangers of militarism and nationalism. In fact, during the Berlin premiere, Nazis released mice, stink bombs, and sneezing powder into the theater. Although the movie was banned in Germany, it played to packed houses in neighboring countries.

9. What was the pattern of a battle? What preceded the attack? What followed it?

16. Describe the attitude of this movie towards World War I and all wars.

Answer the following questions as you watch the film. 1. Why did the students join the Army?

10. What happened to Paul Baumer when he found himself in a 2. What role did Corporal Himmelstoess have? Was he particularly mean to these recruits? Give an example. shellhole in No Man's Land with the French soldier?

11. Why did the French girls - ostensibly the enemy - accept the 3. How were conditions at the Western Front different from their expectations in training camp? German soldiers?

12. After four years of war, how has the German homefront been 4. What was the impact of the shelling on the new recruits? affected? Were there still the parades, crowded streets, and joyous sounds of going off to war? 5. What happened to Kemmerich's boots? How did the doctors' react to Kemmerich's plight? 13. What were the attitudes of the men in the beer hall (with Pauls father)? Were they willing to listen to what Paul had to say? 6. What happened after the bombardment?