All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Reading Guide:
Chapter Three
The events that unfold are:
o To replace the members of the company recently killed, reinforcements
arrive. Paul sees himself as a veteran compared to these slightly younger
newcomers, and Katczinsky befriends one of them by presenting him with a
portion of beef and beans.
o Paul describes Katczinsky’s uncanny ability to find food and supplies. On
one occasion, Kat brings Paul and his friends two loaves of bread and a bag
full of horsemeat, which he roasts to perfection.
o Some of Paul’s companions discuss their views of war. Kat believes that if
everyone were treated equally, no matter his rank, the war would end
quickly (in other words, if the leaders of the military shared the experience
of the common soldiers, then the war would be ended). Kropp proposes
that war should take the form of a festival held in an arena in which the
generals and government officials of two countries would fight each other
to determine the winner. He says that as war is fought now, the wrong
people do the fighting.
o Paul and his friends reflect on the fact that, in the army, men often abuse
whatever power they have. They understand that discipline and authority
are necessary, but they question the system that encourages officers to
torment all those whom they outrank and that rewards officers for giving
pointless orders for the sole purpose of exercising their power.
o Paul explains the source of Tjaden’s special grudge against Himmelstoss. In
an attempt to cure Tjaden of his bed-wetting habit through self education,
Himmelstoss placed another bed-wetter in the bunk above Tjaden; every
night, he would force the two bed-wetters to change places so that they
would anger each other and humiliate themselves. As a result, Tjaden burns
with anger for Himmelstoss.
o Paul recalls a scheme through which he and his friends sought revenge
against Himmelstoss. Waiting outside of the pub that Himmelstoss
frequented, they trapp him in a bed sheet, and they all take turns in
severely beating him. Paul notes that he and his friends have internalized
Himmelstoss’s method of self-education and brutality, and that
Himmelstoss should be proud that they have learned his lessons so well.