“This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand

face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may

have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war”

All Quiet on the Western Front

What are some words that come to mind when you think of:

“WAR”

“SOLDIERS”

Do-Now:

Born in Osnabruck, Germany in 1898

Fought for Germany during WWI at age 18

Was wounded 5 times & swallowed poison gas

Suffered lung injuries

Erich Maria Remarque’s Background

Loss of InnocencePatriotism Disillusionment Meaninglessness of deaths in war

The Horror of WarShared Humanity: (good guys <-> bad guys)

Themes/Motifs

If you were on the frontline, would you view your enemy as a person with feelings, or just an evil force staring you in the face?

Would you feel bad if something were to happen to your enemy?

Does the enemy deserve compassion too?

Critical Thinking:

Remarque’s novel shows German viewpoint during WWI

Does NOT glorify warRemarque shows war’s dark side and condemns it

Novel and film banned by Hitler in 1933

Novel gives Americans insight into German soldier’s mind

An Alternative Viewpoint

German Soldiers

Began in August 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Started with conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia

Germany sided with Austria-HungaryGermany Central Powers USA Allies (France, Russia, Britain,

Italy, Japan) Ended with Treaty of Versailles in

1919

World War I "The Great War" 1914-

1919

Gas Masks after an Attack

Consisted of battlefields & cruel new trench warfare tactics

Used mustard gas, grenades, tanks, air craft, and wireless communication

Germany lost 1.7 million menUS lost over 100,000 men

Western Front

1. Grenades

2. Bayonets 3. Machine Guns

4. Pistols 5. Poison Gas 6. Rifles 7. Trench- Mortars

1.

2.

3.

4.

6.

7.

WWI Weapons

German Propaganda Posters

American Propaganda

The 19 yr. old narrator of the storyFought for Germany Enlisted with school friends to support

the war effortTeacher Kantorek disillusioned young

men like Paul to join army for gloryPaul loses his innocence and idealism

during WWIBest Friend: Stanislaus Katczinsky

(Kat)

Protagonist: Paul Baumer

"Over There"- Patriotic Song

Work Cited

http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/ww1lit.htm

Do-Now: Loss of Innocence

In what ways has Paul already changed from the innocent young

school boy to a grown man fighting in the war? Explain using examples from Ch. 1 of the novel.