The 1930 film begins with German citizens discussing the war and interacting with a mail carrier named Himmelstoss who states is soon to join the war effort. A soldiers march through the town as Kantorek, a teacher in his classroom, passionately persuades his students to join the war effort, describing serving one’s country as the highest honor and stating his assumption that the war will end soon. Several students stand and declare their eagerness to join, and the professor enthusiastically directs them to enlist. A few of them declare their happiness at the realization that they would no longer have to do schoolwork, and the majority of the student body erupts in proud, patriotic, song. One of the students, Behn, does not want to join, but
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They are hungry, and Tjaden informs them that Katczinsky will find food. Katczinsky, who has found something to eat, shares food with them in exchange for cigarettes. That night, after some protest, he takes them along on wiring duty. While he Katczinsky instructs them, they duck as they hear the loud scream and crash of shells, and one of the men has apparently soiled his underwear out of fear. Katczinsky tells them that these large shells are nothing to worry about, but there is another kind to be wary of, and he assures the young man with the soiled underwear that his accident is nothing to be ashamed of, because Katczinsky had experienced the same thing himself. He instructs them in the proper manner of taking cover from shellfire. They face a bombardment, quickly trying to shield themselves in a trench. Behn does not make it to shelter in time and is wounded and rendered blind, screaming out in pain. Kemmerick jumps out in an attempt to pull Behn to safety. However, he realizes he was too late, returning to the trench with Behn’s dead body. Katczinsky admonishes him for his recklessness and tells the lot of them to never do such a
They are hungry, and Tjaden informs them that Katczinsky will find food. Katczinsky, who has found something to eat, shares food with them in exchange for cigarettes. That night, after some protest, he takes them along on wiring duty. While he Katczinsky instructs them, they duck as they hear the loud scream and crash of shells, and one of the men has apparently soiled his underwear out of fear. Katczinsky tells them that these large shells are nothing to worry about, but there is another kind to be wary of, and he assures the young man with the soiled underwear that his accident is nothing to be ashamed of, because Katczinsky had experienced the same thing himself. He instructs them in the proper manner of taking cover from shellfire. They face a bombardment, quickly trying to shield themselves in a trench. Behn does not make it to shelter in time and is wounded and rendered blind, screaming out in pain. Kemmerick jumps out in an attempt to pull Behn to safety. However, he realizes he was too late, returning to the trench with Behn’s dead body. Katczinsky admonishes him for his recklessness and tells the lot of them to never do such a