How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
We had sworn for weeks past to do this. Kropp had even gone so far as to propose entering the postal service in peace-time in order to be Himmelstoss's superior when he became a postman again. He reveled in the thought of how he would grind him. It was this that made it impossible for him to crush us altogether – we always reckoned that later, at the end of the war, we would have our revenge on him. (3.62)
Himmelstoss seems like more of an enemy than anyone else in this novel.
Quote #2
Returning to the barracks he had to go along a dark, uninhabited road. There we waited for him behind a pile of stones. I had a bed-cover with me. We trembled with suspense, hoping [Himmelstoss] would be alone. At last we heard his footstep, which we recognized easily, so often had we heard it in the mornings as the door flew open and he bawled: "Get up!" (3.66)
Paul and his friends spend quite a bit of time coming up with a way to take revenge on Himmelstoss. Why do you think it is so hard for them to just let him be? Why must they execute this last act of revenge?
Quote #3
He put himself in position with evident satisfaction, raised his arm like a signal-mast and his hand like a coal-shovel and fetched such a blow on the white sack as would have felled an ox. (3.71)
Covered in a sheet, this isn't exactly a fair match. The soldiers aren't just having fun with Himmelstoss at this point – there seem to be some heavy emotions involved in this abuse.
Quote #4
Haie looked round once again and said wrathfully, satisfied and rather mysteriously:
"Revenge is black-pudding." (3.78-79)
What in the h-e-double hockey sticks does Haie mean when he says, "Revenge is black-pudding"? We know that blood pudding is a delicacy in several cultures involving congealed blood in sausage form (a.k.a. blood pudding). In German this delicacy is known as blutwurst. Maybe Haie means something to the effect of "What goes around comes around." Hmmmm.
Quote #5
"You lump, will you get out – you hound, you skunk, sneak out of it, would you?" [Himmelstoss's] eye becomes glassy, I knock his head against the wall – "You cow" – I kick him in the ribs – "You swine" – I push him toward the door and shove him out head first. (6.148)
We're not quite sure what's up with the animal imagery at this moment, but it's clear that Paul is none too pleased with Himmelstoss's plan to hide in a dugout during a bombardment rather than fight. The man who was supposed to have taught the young soldiers about bravery and about what it means to be a soldier is the greatest coward of them all.
Quote #6
[Mittelstaedt to Paul:] "Territorial Kantorek, two years ago you preached us into enlisting; and among us, there was one, Joseph Behm, who didn't want to enlist. He was killed three months before he would have been called up in the ordinary way. If it had not been for you he would have lived just that much longer. And now: Dismiss. You will hear from me later." (7.203)
The true enemies of Paul and his comrades are those that trained and taught them. These men in power seem to be universally corrupt – or perhaps Paul only chooses to focus on examples of corrupt leaders. The soldiers' greatest joy is finding ways to hold power over these leaders.
Quote #7
"Couldn't you polish him up a bit?" I ask.
"He's too stupid, I couldn't be bothered," answers Mittelstaedt contemptuously. (7.129)
Do you agree with the way Mittelstaedt takes revenge on Kantorek? Paul seems to suggest that his friend should take pity on and try to improve their old school teacher. In many ways it seems that these soldiers have so little joy in their lives that revenge-seeking must be executed in only the most harsh and satisfying ways.
Quote #8
Any non-commissioned officer is more of an enemy to a recruit, any school-master to a pupil than they are to us. And yet we would shoot at them again and they at us if they were free. (8.22)
In this war the real enemies go unaccused, and the soldiers must bring about their own form of justice. As soldiers, however, they must follow the rules of their country and kill upon command.
Quote #9
"Heathen," she chirps, but shuts the door all the same. We have won. (10.140)
The soldiers find another pseudo-enemy in the nurses/nuns at the Catholic hospital where Paul and Kropp are detained. Again, we see an example of authority members who are more concerned with the appearances and rules than with the reality of the situation. The nuns pray loudly in the hall, refusing to close the door to the room where sick soldiers sleep.