What are the costs of war and at what point is it no longer worth fighting? by Erich Rumson

Erich Maria Remarque

erumson20241 — 2024-05-16 15:22:34 UTC

Erich Maria Remarque was a German author most famous for his 1929 anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Born in Osnabruck, Germany in 1898, Remarque was drafted into the German Army in 1916 at the peak of WWI, where he experienced the horrors and brutality of trench warfare. Remarque lost a number of friends during the fighting, and he himself would be wounded during an artillery barrage. Following the war, Remarque worked a number of different jobs before ultimatley pursuing a career as a writer. In 1928, Remarque's best known work All Quiet on the Western Front was published, and became an instant success while also attracting controversy. Though the novel's frank and often critical depiction of WWI and German leadership was met with much international acclaim, it made him a target of many in Germany, especially among the emerging Nazi Party. Knowing he was no longer safe in Germany, Remarque fled to Switzerland where he would continue to write until his death in 1970.

Historical Setting (WWI)

erumson20241 — 2024-05-16 15:45:40 UTC

The novel is set in the middle of World War I, and follows a young German soldier named Paul Baumer, who sees first hand the terrible brutality and devastation of trench warfare, and the futility of the war. Baumer's experiences and views are largely based on Remarques own, as the author had served in the German Amry when he was only 18 years old. The war, which began in 1914, was unprecedented in the massive loss of life it inflicted on all sides, due mainly to the modern weapons it introduced on a large scale, such as machine guns, long range artillery, tanks, poison gas, etc. While the war quickly proved to be costly, it was also seemingly arbitrary, as it was the result of longstanding tensions between the major powers of Europe reaching a breaking point in summer 1914. The war would go on for over four years, causing millions of deaths and crippling the economies of both sides, until Germany and its allies were forced to surrender in the fall of 1918.

Non-Fiction Connection

erumson20241 — 2024-05-17 18:17:03 UTC

The article "Historical Context: The Global Effect of World War I" by Steven Mintz describes the effects the First World War had on the world and the events influenced by it. The most devastating impact the war had was on the European population, as an estimated 14 million people total were killed as a result of the conflict. It also dealt a serious blow to the economies of the countries that took part, and led to a number of revolutions, most notably in Russia. The war also largely set the stage for many of the major events for the 20th century, such as the Second World War (which would prove deadlier and more destructive than the first), the Cold War, and Decolonization. Ultimately, the First World War would prove one to be one of the most important events in world history, both in its immediate effects as well as the subsequent events that it helped cause.

Art Connection

erumson20241 — 2024-05-17 18:26:01 UTC

The painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso, which was made in 1937, is one of the most iconic artistic depictions of war, both for its unique and unconventional style and haunting imagery. Inspired by the devastation brought about during the Spanish Civil War, the painting shows a gruesome scene inside a building in the city Guernica, which was destroyed by bombing. Shown in the painting is a dead child in his mother's arms, a wounded soldier, and terrified women seemingly trapped inside. The painting is a great example of art showing what the cost of war often is, and in this way is a great connection to All Quiet on the Western Front.

Poetry Connection

erumson20241 — 2024-05-17 18:41:47 UTC

"Spring Offensive", is a 1918 poem written by Wilfred Owen, who served in the British Army during WWI. Inspired by the German Spring Offensive of 1918, the poem contrasts the natural beauty of spring with the danger of a coming battle. This poem is one of many that Owen wrote as he served in the war, and his work offers key insights into how the average soldier may have felt during the conflict. Instead of portraying the war with patriotic, nationalist themes, the poem instead focuses on the terrible effects that war can have, which is similar to the themes of All Quiet on the Western Front.

Visual Connection

erumson20241 — 2024-05-18 03:22:00 UTC

The film Paths of Glory (1957) directed by Stanley Kubrick is set during WWI, and follows a French colonel as he is ordered to lead an almost suicidal attack on a fortifed German position. When the attack fails, some of the colonels troops are faced with a court martial for cowardice, while the colonel defends them during the trial. The film sheds light on the injustices of war and is especially critical towards the leaders of French military, who are shown as being indifferent towards the heavy losses suffered by their men. In this way it is very similar to All Quiet of the Western Front, as they both show the unnecessary loss of life and senseless fighting that war can bring about.

Additional Connections

erumson20241 — 2024-05-18 03:31:39 UTC

There have been two film adaptations of All Quiet on the Western Front, both receiving acclaim. The first adaptation, released in 1930, was an international success and would go on to win multiple Oscars, including Best Picture. The film was also met with controversy, especially in Germany, as just like the book the film was a target of the increasingly prominent Nazi Party. The second and most recent feature film adaptation was a German production released in 2022 and was featured on Netflix. This version, entirely in German, also won a number of awards, including the Oscar for Best International film. Both versions are effective in conveying the themes of the novel, although they do make some changes to the source material.