The story takes place during World War I in Germany. The story is about a man named Paul Bäumer and his friends Tjaden, Müller, Katczinsky, also known as Kat, Haie, Detering, Kropp and Kemmerich. Our story opens five miles behind the German front. Bäumer and his friends had been relieved the day before and were waiting for the kitchen to open. Fourteen days ago there were one hundred fifty men getting on line with them but, now there were only eighty men left. Tjaden was the first to realize that since almost half the men were dead they could have almost twice as much food since there was more than enough to go around. When he asked for more the cook said he couldn't because it was for the other men. Tjaden filled him in that "all the other men were in the camps or 'pushin' up daises." When Bulke, leader of their company came out Tjaden told him what was going on. Bulke ordered the sergeant-cook to hand out all of the rations. …
