All Quiet on the Western Front

Professor Kantorek delivers an inspiring speech about the glory of serving in the Army. Moved by his words, the boys in his class, particularly Paul Bäumer, feel the pressure to enlist and join the fight.

Under the influence of their classmates and the fervor instilled by Kantorek, the entire class joins the army as members of the new 2nd Company. This decision marks their transition from boys to soldiers, filled with naïve enthusiasm.

The young recruits undergo rigorous and abusive training led by Corporal Himmelstoss. His harsh methods serve to strip away their boyhood innocence as they learn the harsh realities of military discipline.

In a moment of camaraderie, the boys rebel against Himmelstoss by tripping him and covering him in a blanket. This act of defiance boosts their spirits but also highlights the harshness of their training.

The new soldiers arrive at a chaotic combat zone, where they are immediately confronted with the terrifying realities of war. One soldier in their group is killed before they even reach their post, underscoring the danger that lies ahead.

Upon reaching their unit, the young recruits find themselves without food, as the older soldiers have not eaten for two days. Kat Katczinsky manages to steal a hog from a field kitchen, demonstrating the lengths they must go to survive.

The recruits' first experience in the trenches is harrowing, marked by chaos and fear. When Behn is blinded by shrapnel and rushes into gunfire, it becomes clear that war is far more brutal than they ever imagined.

After enduring days of bombardment, the young soldiers successfully repulse an enemy attack and capture a trench, but with heavy losses. That night, they receive double rations due to the number of fallen comrades, a stark reminder of war's cost.

Paul and his mates visit their injured friend Franz in the hospital, witnessing the horror and pain that conflict inflicts. Despite the medical care, Franz's leg is amputated, leading to his untimely death shortly thereafter.

Corporal Himmelstoss arrives at the front, receiving immediate disdain from the men. His forced participation in an attack ultimately leads to his death, highlighting the brutality of war and the consequences of his training methods.

During an attack, Paul kills a French soldier in close quarters, but becomes trapped with the dying man. As he tries to comfort him, Paul grapples with guilt and the reality of taking a life, revealing the emotional toll of war.

In a fleeting moment of respite, Paul and his friends sneak over to the French side for a night filled with food and company from French women. This night stands in stark contrast to the harsh realities of their lives as soldiers.

After being wounded, Paul returns to the front only to find his friend Albert Kropp severely injured. Their shared experience of war highlights the psychological and physical scars that accompany their journey.

Paul receives a furlough and visits his family, shocked by their ignorance of the war's true nature. His attempts to convey the realities of battle fall on deaf ears as he faces their romanticized perceptions of glory.

In the final moments of the film, as Paul reaches out for a butterfly in a moment of innocence, he is shot and killed by a sniper. This tragic end symbolizes the lost youth and dreams of countless soldiers consumed by the war.