All Quiet on the Western Front - Chapters 2-3

The narrator reflects on how their past life feels distant and incomprehensible since the war began.
Mentions a play called "Saul" and a collection of poems left at home.
The war has created a sharp divide between their past and present.

The narrator contrasts young soldiers with older men.
Older men have established lives (wives, children, jobs) providing a strong background that the war cannot erase.
Young men of 20 (Krop, Mueller, Leer, etc.) have weaker ties to their past, mainly parents and perhaps a girl.
Parental influence wanes at this age, and romantic relationships are still developing.
Their lives consisted of enthusiasm, hobbies, and school – little else.
The war has completely consumed them leaving nothing else.

The example of Mueller wanting Kemerich's boots illustrates their changed values. Mueller's desire isn't seen as heartless, but practical.
If Kemerich could use the boots, Mueller wouldn't want them.
The boots are useless to Kemerich in his condition (dying).
Only the practical matters. Good boots are valuable for survival.

Before the war, they were filled with vague, idealistic ideas about life and war.

Ten weeks of army training had a more profound impact than ten years of schooling.
They learned the importance of superficial things ( $bright \ button$ ) over intellectual pursuits ( $four \ volumes \ of \ Schopenhauer$ ).
The system and boot brush matter more than intelligence and freedom.
Initial enthusiasm was replaced by bitternes and indifference.
They realized that a low-ranking postman had more authority than their parents and teachers.
The classical ideals of the fatherland were replaced by meaningless drills and renunciation of personality.
Training for heroism felt like training circus ponies.

They adapted to the training, distinguishing between necessary tasks and pointless show.
They were scattered amongst various platoons, befriending Frisian fishermen, peasants, and laborers.

Himmelstoss was a strict disciplinarian and former postman who disliked the narrator and his friends (Krop, Tjaden, Westhus).
Examples of Himmelstoss's petty torment:
- Remaking a bed 14 times.
- Scrubbing the corporal's mess with a toothbrush.
- Clearing the barracks square of snow with a hand broom and dustpan.
- Practicing "advance, advance, and lie down" in a muddy field until collapse.
- Standing at attention in freezing temperatures without gloves.
- Running from the top floor of the barracks in the middle of the night due to a drawer being misaligned.
- Being struck during bayonet practice.
The narrator once retaliated against Himmelstoss, but the company commander was amused.

The recruits grew to resent and defy Himmelstoss.
Kropp and the narrator emptied a latrine bucket over Himmelstoss which led to Himmelstoss threatening punishment.
Kropp argued back, leading Himmelstoss to back down which marked the end of his authority.
They deliberately sabotaged Himmelstoss's "advance, advance, and lie down" exercise by performing it extremely slowly.
Himmelstoss continued to insult them, but with a hint of respect.

Other staff corporals were also strict to maintain their positions.
The recruits were subjected to intense and often pointless drills.
Some recruits became ill, and one (Wolf) died of pneumonia.
They became hardened, suspicious, pitiless, and vicious.
This brutal training was necessary to prepare them for the trenches.
The practical sense of comradeship that arose from this experience became the finest thing to emerge from the war.

Kemerich is dying in the hospital after having his leg amputated.
A hospital train has arrived, and the wounded are being selected for transport.
The doctor ignores Kemerich.
Kemerich knows he is going to die and says so.
The narrator tries to comfort him by pointing out that it could have been worse (both legs, Wagler's arm).
Kemerich doesn't believe he will recover.
He shows the narrator his fingers, damaged from the operation.
The narrator urges him to eat.
Kemerich reveals his dream of becoming a head forester.
The narrator tries to reassure him about artificial limbs but they don't work.

Kemerich's condition deteriorates rapidly.
His lips recede, his mouth widens, and his teeth become prominent.
His forehead bulges, his cheekbones protrude, and his eyes sink in.
The narrator has seen death before, but Kemerich's death is different because they grew up together.
The narrator remembers Kemerich as a youth: his brown coat, his ability on the horizontal bar, his dislike of cigarettes, his white skin, and his somewhat girlish appearance.

The narrator contrasts their appearance in boots (strong and powerful) with their naked appearance when bathing (slender legs and slight shoulders).
When naked, they feel like civilians again.
Kemerich looked frail and childlike when bathing.
The narrator questions why Kemerich has to die.

The narrator tries to comfort Kemerich by describing the convalescent home and pleasant activities he could do there (fishing, playing piano).
Kemerich is crying silently.
The narrator realizes his words are useless.
The narrator holds Kemerich and asks him to sleep.
Kemerich only weeps and doesn't speak.
He is alone with his short life.
This is the hardest parting the narrator has witnessed.

Kemerich groans and begins to gurgle.
The narrator seeks a doctor.
The doctor is dismissive and asks the orderly about the bed number.
The doctor states that he has amputated five legs today and cannot be concerned with every case.
The orderly says that there have been 16 deaths today, and Kemerich will be the seventeenth.

The narrator is overwhelmed and cannot do anything.
Kemerich dies and it is already too late.
Kemerich's face is still wet with tears and his eyes are half-open.
The orderly is concerned with getting the bed cleared. They are already hauling Franz away which causes the narrator great distress and anger.
The orderly asks about Kemerich's belongings and paybook.