Western Front Trauma

All Quiet on the Western Front The movie All Quiet On The Western Front shows how the German soldiers endured extreme mental and physical trauma. In the beginning of the movie Paul Baumer, the main protagonist, explains how the young men were classmates with bright futures ahead of them just months before, now most of them will come out if not dead then severely traumatized. In the first war scene we see the men casually walking over dead bodies and finding fighting would be more important than saving their friends. As Paul's good friend Kemrich faces death, his fellow platoon focus on the boots he can provide now that he is no longer able to fight rather than their comrade. I don't believe this is a lack of compassion, but rather a result …show more content…
Paul suffers with the French soldier through hearing his whimpering and knowing they could be brothers. As he finally dies, Paul reflects on why he even fights. After this horrid battle the men are now able to go on break; however, they are left questioning everything, their religion, their reason for fighting, and even themselves. Eventually, the base gets bombed and Paul and his best friend, Albert, are injured, they're lucky and sent to a catholic infirmary. These are known to be the best case scenario. Paul's leg gets better and he is let on sixteen day leave, he goes back home and visits his family. He must lie to everyone and say morale is high and everyone has a quick death. When it's time for him to return home, Paul sees the army as his home now and can't feel home in the house his family lives in. He sees himself as a murderer only capable of killing and his trust only placed in the men at the front lines with him. When Paul gets back to the army he has a smile on his face; when he turns around he sees new recruits that look no older than