The story was told by Paul Baumer, a nineteen year old student, convinced to enlist with the German army by his schoolmaster, Kantorek. Along with many of his friends from school, he is trained under Corporal Katczinsky, a strictly disciplined commander who dislikes Paul because of his "defiance."
When sent to the front, Paul, along with his other friends, made new friendships that would last throughout time. His newly made friend/commander, was a man named Stanislaus Katczinsky. As a man of forty years of age he was an wise old man as well as a friend to the young eighteen and nineteen year old recruits.
After visiting the front for long stretches Paul is given fourteen days of leave where he can visit his ill mother at his own home. …
