All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque

As chapter twelve opens it is Autumn. It appears calm, and there is talk of peace and armistice. Paul sadly is the only one left out of seven men from his group. Paul seems to despair all of the things like the greed of life, love, and home but it seems as if he has no desire to enjoy all of these things anymore. I think it is sad that young men are called to war, they have no choice. They are stripped of practically their existence, because all they know is how to be a soldier hoping to escape death continually. It is also interesting that Paul's perspective on the experience of war will lead to the years passing by and the war will be forgotten. He also feels like he will be alienated from future generations and their lack of understanding.  From this he feels they can take nothing more from him. He is alone and without hope. This makes me wonder why is there war at all? In the end it produces nothing more than death, despair, and a disconnection from society. In recent years we hear about PTSS (post traumatic stress syndrome) which has been medically recognized for so many soldiers. In a sense Paul and the other soldiers went through in the book.