Professor Kantorek, portrayed by Arnold Lucy, delivers a fervent address, extolling the virtues of military service and the honor in "saving the Fatherland". Inspired by his words, the boys of his class, led by Lew Ayres as Paul Bäumer, feel compelled to enlist in the army, succumbing to the intense peer pressure that surrounds them. As they transition from boys to soldiers in the newly formed 2nd Company, their romantic notions of war are swiftly shattered during the harsh training sessions administered by the harsh Corporal Himmelstoss, played by John Wray, who bluntly declares, "You're going to be soldiers—and that's all."
Under Himmelstoss’s extreme regimen, the young recruits are transformed, beginning with basic military disciplines like standing in formation. In a moment of rebellious camaraderie, the entire class bands together to ambush Himmelstoss, wrapping him in a blanket and administering a beating that underscores their budding resilience. Paul’s father, Herr Bäumer, is proud of his son’s commitment to the army, although his mother, played by Beryl Mercer, harbors concerns.
Upon arrival at the chaotic combat zone, the new recruits encounter a scene of utter disarray, with soldiers rushing about, shells exploding, and heavy rain adding to the turmoil. Tragically, one of their group is killed before they even reach their post, shocking the others, particularly a soldier named Behn. They soon learn that food is extremely scarce; having not eaten since breakfast, they discover their new comrades haven’t had meals for days. Fortunately, a resourceful soldier named Kat, played by Louis Wolheim, manages to procure a hog he has stolen from a nearby field kitchen, allowing the young soldiers to barter with soap and cigarettes for a proper meal.
Their first experience in the trenches proves terrifying as they attempt to re-string barbed wire, leading to horrific consequences when Behn is blinded by shrapnel and runs headlong into machine gun fire in a panic. After enduring days of bombardment, tension mounts among the young men, particularly when Franz, played by Ben Alexander, becomes severely injured and ultimately succumbs to his wounds in the hospital, leaving a void among his friends. Paul and his comrades reflect upon their lack of practical training for survival in war, lamenting over things such as lighting a cigarette in the wind and the brutal reality of combat.
When Corporal Himmelstoss arrives at the front, he is subjected to disdain from the very soldiers he has tried to dominate. In an ironic twist of fate, he is sent over the top with the 2nd Company, where he meets a swift demise. During an attack at a cemetery, Paul finds himself trapped with a dying French soldier named Duval Gerard, whose identity he uncovers amidst the chaos. Struggling to provide comfort, Paul is devastated by the realization of shared humanity, grieving for the life lost before him.
Seeking solace, Paul and his friends indulge in a rare moment of reprieve by bathing in a canal near the border, where they unwittingly entice some French women with promises of food and wine, prompting a rebellious excursion across enemy lines. However, as the reality of war closes in once more, Paul is gravely injured and taken to a Catholic hospital. There he learns of the grim fate that awaits his friend Albert Kropp, whose leg is amputated—a cruel reminder of the brutal costs of battle.
After a tumultuous recovery, Paul receives furlough and returns home, only to be met with the stark contrast of his family's naivety regarding the war. His encounter with Kantorek, who continues to disseminate nationalistic fervor to younger students, fuels Paul's discontent and anger, especially when the professor dismisses his hardships, leading to accusations of cowardice from the impressionable youth.
Back at the front, Paul encounters fresh recruits brimming with the same misguided enthusiasm he once possessed, greeting his friend Tjaden, portrayed by Slim Summerville, with a heavy heart. In a moment of crisis, Paul carries Kat after he suffers a leg injury, yet fate intervenes cruelly when a bomb results in Kat’s death, further shattering Paul’s spirit.
In the poignant and tragic finale, as Paul again takes to the front lines, he glimpses a delicate butterfly—a symbol of beauty amidst the devastation. As he reaches out, lost in a moment of innocence, he falls victim to an enemy sniper’s bullet, embodying the senselessness of war as the scene fades out to reveal the grim reality of a cemetery, resonating with the heavy toll that war exacts from all who dare to answer its call.
