The greatest war novel of all time, All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a novel that describes the difficulties of a group of teenagers who enlisted in the German Army during the First World War. Enlisting right after high school forced the boys to experience things they had never thought of. From life as a soldier on the front lines to family problems, the war had once again managed to destroy a group of teenagers. Throughout the novel we have seen the men of the Second Company adapt to the harsh conditions of war and fight in the field. the first line. The first case was for the men to go and relieve the front line. The weather had been quiet enough for them, so the quartermaster requisitioned the normal amount of rations for a whole company of one hundred and fifty men. On the last day the Company was in the front line, a number of English heavy men opened up on them with high explosives. This resulted in a heavy loss and the Second Company returned with only eighty men. Each morning the men were served a ration of sausage and bread, along with five cigars, ten cigarettes and a pound of chews. The men of Second Company realized that, because of their fallen comrades, they might be able to get double rations. Although the cook did not want to serve the men the leftovers, they argued with him until he finally relented. The men were happy to receive double rations of food along with a double ration of smoke. The loss of more than half of their company did not even scare the men. Knowing nothing but war, men became accustomed to facing death. All that mattered to them was getting the double ration. Being at war had stripped them of any innocence that Paul and his classmates had left. Another example of how difficult things are... middle of paper... ssion. Paul was overwhelmed by being home. The one thing everyone wanted to talk about was the war. No one understood it, as Paul dealt with it every single day, he didn't want to talk about it. His mother was among the people who asked him about the war. “Was it very bad out there, Paul?” (Page 161) Paul simply had no words to even begin to describe his experiences. He lied and told his mother that it wasn't that bad. While Paolo was at home he learned that his mother had fallen ill and that the civilian population was beginning to starve. One day, while walking through the streets, Paul met an elderly gentleman who was a major. Paolo didn't recognize him so he didn't say hello. The older gentlemen were indignant at this and forced him to march down the street and salute elegantly. From this point on he wore civilian clothes when in public.