- Thirty thousand.
- From the Russians?
No, from the French.
From the Russians we capture
more than that every day.
[ People Shouting, Chattering ]
Mr Postman.
w*r is w*r and schnapps is schnapps,
and business must go on.
You didn't leave
the mail yet this morning.
Ah, I'm sorry, Mr Meyer.
Hello, Himmelstoss.
Anything for us today?
- No, no, Master Peter.
- Oh, there must be something.
Here, here you go, young rascal.
[ Laughing ]
There. This is the last mail
I deliver anyhow.
- What?
- Tomorrow I change uniforms.
- You're going in the army?
- Yes, I was called.
I'm a sergeant
in the reserves, you know.
I'll be called myself,
if it doesn't end in a few months.
- It will, though.
- I'm sure you're right, Mr Meyer.
[ Shouting, Chattering Continue ]
♪ [ Band Playing ]
-♪ [ Continues ]
- [ Shouting Continues ]
[ Speaking, Inaudible ]
...defending our country,
our fatherland.
Now, my beloved class,
this is what we must do:
Strike with all our power.
Give every ounce of strength...
to win victory
before the end of the year.
It is with reluctance that
I bring this subject up again.
You are the life
of the fatherland, you boys.
You are the iron men
of Germany.
You are the gay heroes
who will repulse the enemy...
when you are called upon
to do so.
It is not for me to suggest
that any of you...
should stand up and offer
to defend his country.
But I wonder if such a thing
is going through your heads.
I know that
in one of the schools...
the boys have risen up
in the classroom...
and enlisted in a mass.
But, of course, if such a thing
should happen here...
you would not blame me
for a feeling of pride.
Perhaps some will say...
that you should not
be allowed to go yet...
that you are too young,
that you have homes, mothers, fathers...
that you should not be torn away.
Are your fathers so forgetful
of their fatherland...
that they would let it perish
rather than you?
Are your mothers so weak
that they cannot send a son...
to defend the land
which gave them birth?
And after all,
is a little experience...
such a bad thing for a boy?
Is the honour of wearing
a uniform...
something from which
we should run?
And if our young ladies
glory in those who wear it...
is that anything
to be ashamed of?
I know you have never desired
the adulation of heroes.
That has not been
part of my teaching.
We have sought
to make ourselves worthy...
and let acclaim come
when it would.
But to be foremost in battle...
is a virtue
not to be despised.
I believe it will be
a quick w*r...
that there will be few losses.
But if losses there must be...
then let us remember
the Latin phrase...
which must have come
to the lips of many a Roman...
when he stood embattled
in a foreign land.:
"Dulce et decorum est
pro patria mori."
"Sweet and fitting it is
to die for the fatherland. "
Some of you
may have ambitions.
I know of one young man
who has great promise as a writer...
and he has written the first act
of a tragedy...
which would be a credit
to one of the masters.
And he is dreaming, I suppose...
of following in the footsteps
of Goethe and Schiller...
and I hope he will.
But now our country calls.
The fatherland needs leaders.
Personal ambition
must be thrown aside...
in the one great sacrifice
for our country.
Here is a glorious beginning
to your lives.
The field of honour calls you.
Why are we here?
You, Kropp,
what has kept you back?
You, Mueller, you know
how much you are needed?
Ah, I see you look
at your leader.
And l, too, look to you,
Paul Baumer...
and I wonder
what you are going to do.
- I'll go.
- I want to go.
- Count on me.
- Me too.
- I'm ready.
- I'm not gonna stay home!
- [ All Shouting ]
Follow me! Enlist now!
- No more classes!
- [ Others ] No more classes!
- Don't be a quitter!
- Come on, Behn!
Stick together.
That's what we've got to do.
- Let's all stick together.
- Come on, Behn.
All right.
All right.
- I'll go.
- That's the way!
Let's go!
Hey! Let's sing!
Come on!
♪ [ All Singing, Unintelligible ]
♪ [ Continues ]
[ Men Shouting ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
- Keep in line there, soldiers.
- [ Laughing ]
- Anything you say, General.
- [ All Laughing ]
Detail, halt!
Left face!
Get into uniform,
ready to report. Fall out!
[ All Chattering, Shouting ]
I bet you a place like this
gets you in good condition.
You have to be
for the long marches.
I'm gonna get
in the cavalry and ride.
No cavalry for me.
Infantry's where
you see the fighting.
Where are all the g*ns?
That's what I want to know.
Oh, you don't get a g*n
for a long while yet.
If I'm gonna bump off the enemy,
I gotta have some practise. Ow!
Bayonet drill.
That's what I want.
Ah!
You won a medal
that time, Mueller.
You wait. In about a month
I'll be covered with 'em.
Say, keep your boots
out of my face!
Why, it's an honour to have
those boots in your face.
They're the best pair in the army!
My uncle gave 'em to me.
Just look at that
special imported leather.
Put 'em anyplace you like,
except in my face.
Not even a kitchen maid'll
look at me in this!
Attention!
Well, for the love of--
It's Himmelstoss!
- So it is.
- And all dressed up.
Hello, Himmie. You didn't think
you'd see me again so soon, did you?
- You see my rank?
- Sure.
Fall back, then!
- Himmelstoss, we certainly
are glad to see you.
- What did you say?
- I was going to say--
- Never mind!
- What's the matter with you?
- When you address your
superior officer, say " sir"!
- Where'd he get such a nice uniform?
- Any mail for us, Himmie?
- Quiet!
- My dear fellow, you're shouting.
Ah, come on, Himmelstoss. We know ya.
Take off the false whiskers.
- I believe you mean it!
- You'll find out that I mean it.
- But only three days ago
you were our postman.
- Silence!
Come back here!
Line up!
Line up! Get in
some kind of a line!
All of you! Line up, I say!
[ Laughing ]
Hmm.
What a pretty sight that is!
Have you never heard
of standing in line?
You make a fine mess of it.
Well, I'll have to teach you.
We'll spend the whole
day on it, huh?
You may be stupid,
but I'm used to that.
And then there'll be
plenty of other things too.
Oh, I'll not neglect you.
Hmm. You're not much
to begin with...
but I'll do my best.
I see that we have come here
with a slight misunderstanding...
and we'll correct that,
too, won't we, huh?
And the first thing to do is to
forget everything you ever knew.
Everything you ever learned,
forget! See?
Forget what you've been
and what you think you're going to be.
You're going to be soldiers,
and that's all!
I'll take the mother's milk out of you!
I'll make you hard-boiled!
I'll make soldiers out of you
or k*ll you!
Now... salute!
A-ten-hut!
Detachment... lie down!
Down!
Head down!
Keep your head down,
Baumer!
Detachment... get up!
Now sing!
♪ [ All Singing Feebly, Unintelligibly ]
Do you call that singing?
Detachment, halt!
So... we have no spirit, huh?
We are in no mood
for recreation.
Work is what we want. Good!
Then we'll go back to work!
Detachment, lie down!
Keep your head down!
Now sing!
♪ [ All Singing In German, Spirited ]
♪ [ Continues ]
Men... halt!
Order, arms!
Inspection at 3:00. Dismissed!
[ Chattering ]
Oh, that swine!
That means we get no time off.
It will take four hours
to get ready for inspection.
- I'd like to know what's in his mind.
- He hasn't got any!
I'm gonna cut him open
sometime and find out!
He's too thick-skinned.
He won't cut.
This is the fourth time he's made me
disappoint that poor girl.
Arms!
Order, arms!
Left shoulder, arms!
Squad right.
To the right, march!
Left, left, left, left.
Column left, march!
Squad, left march!
Forward... march!
Detachment...
halt!
Present arms!
Himmelstoss.
Excellent work.
They're going up front tomorrow.
- I recommend leave till midnight.
- Very good, sir.
[ Shouting Orders,
Unintelligible ]
Left, left, left.
Detachment... lie down!
Crawl forward!
[ All Chattering ]
He spoilt our leave.
I'll never forgive him for that.
- The rat!
- Leave till midnight. Hmm!
It'll take till midnight
to dry our clothes.
There goes
the filthy ape now.
While we sl*ve over this mud,
he goes off to have a few drinks!
Someday I'm going to take
one smack at him--just one.
Me too. That's gonna be
my life's work from now on.
Why only one?
I'm gonna take several.
I might even kick him
while he's down. I feel mean.
What are you doing?
You're not going
to desert, are you?
What?
[ Laughing ]
[ Laughing ]
Listen. I've got an idea.
♪ [ Singing, Unintelligible ]
[ Laughing ]
Lie down! Crawl forward!
[ Laughing ]
[ Himmelstoss Laughing ]
Lie down! Crawl forward!
[ Continues Laughing ]
Oh! What?
[ Laughing ]
[ Himmelstoss
Yelling, Screaming ]
[ Continues Screaming ]
Ow! Ow!
♪ [ Whistling ]
[ Boys Whispering ]
- [ Men Shouting ]
- [ Distant g*nf*re ]
[ Explosions ]
- [ expl*si*n ]
- [ Man ] Cover!
- [ Shouting ]
- [ Shell Whistling ]
[ Shouting ]
- [ All Chattering ]
- Paul, you all right?
Behn! Behn!
Behn!
Come on!
Behn, come on!
You fool! Behn!
Get up!
Come on.
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ Men Shouting ]
-♪ [ Concertina ]
-Sounds like more replacements coming in.
Yeah. Tjaden must have
gone home for that wood.
There's some more,
fresh from the turnip patch.
[ Paul ]
I suppose this is where we bunk.
That's me, "I. Westhus,"
and this is where I live.
- I didn't know!
- Well, you know now!
Yes. Yes, of course.
- It's all right.
- [ Soldier ] Here's a bunk, Paul.
- When did we eat last?
- Don't remind me.
- I was fine until you spoke.
- Where are we anyway?
I don't know. The name on
the railroad station's been shot off.
There must be something
to eat somewhere.
I'll tell you
what I'll do.
I'll ask those fellas.
Sorry to disturb you,
Mr Westhus.
Oh. Meet Detering.
A better farmer never lived.
- And Mr Tjaden.
- Sit down.
You see, we haven't eaten
since breakfast.
We thought maybe you could tell us
what we ought to do about it.
Eat without
further delay.
[ Detering,
Tjaden Laughing ]
Well, what's funny
about that?
This is a bad town
to bring an appetite to, soldier.
We've been here since yesterday morning,
living on baled hay and razor blades.
We're willing to buy our food.
Where's the canteen?
[ Laughing ] The only canteen in these
regions is out looking for supplies.
- Ever hear of Katczinsky?
- Who?
Katczinsky.
He's uncanny.
If there's any food within
25 miles, he'll be the one to get it.
- Hey!
- [ Grunts ]
[ Grunts ]
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hup!
- Hup!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[ Chattering ]
Attention!
[ Laughing ]
- What is this?
- Volunteers for
the future generals' staff.
Sometime I'm gonna take
one of you volunteers apart...
and find out what makes you
leave school and join the army.
At ease. This is no parade ground.
- Hungry?
- [ All Shouting ] Yes.
Wait! Wait a minute!
That's no invitation.
- Can you pay?
- Yeah, sure.
- I have some money.
No, not money.
That's just pieces of paper.
Have you got any
cigarettes, cigars...
- or soap, cognac--
- Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah.
- Chewing tobacco?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Kat!
Are you crazy?
There ain't enough here for us.
I wish you three
would get bumped off.
I'm tired of feeding ya
for nothing.
- Bring everything you got.
- [ All Chattering ]
- [ Boy #1 ] I'm so hungry--
- [ Boy #2 ] I'd be glad to give you--
- Come on!
- Is this enough, sir?
- Kat!
- Hmm?
- You've got the wiring detail tonight.
- Where?
- Past the graveyard.
- With this bunch?
It's quiet tonight.
You can teach 'em a couple of things.
Thanks. I'd rather
do it alone.
- These babes get k*lled off too fast.
- Well, the lorry's waiting.
Last night
I was too hungry to sleep...
and tonight, when I get the wrinkles out
of my gut, they think up wiring duty.
Well, here's
your chance, heroes.
Come on, get your stuff
and let's get out of here.
- Is that any way to drive?
- Let him drive any way he wants.
Suppose he breaks your arm.
You get sent home, don't you?
A lot better than havin'
a hole in your guts.
If there's any of you left,
I'll pick you up in the morning.
Well, if that ride you gave us
didn't k*ll us, nothing will.
- And be on time. I don't
want to miss my breakfast.
- [ Laughing ]
- Huh?
- You better wait for your army, Papa.
Here, here.
Don't be so backward.
Listen, children. All we got to do
is to string a little wire.
We pick it up at the dump
and carry it to where we need it.
Now, you're gonna see some shell fire,
and you're gonna be scared, see?
[ Shell Whistling, expl*si*n ]
It's all right, boy.
Get up.
Here. Never mind.
It's happened to better men than you,
and it's happened to me.
When we come back, I'll get you all
some nice clean underwear. [ Chuckles ]
That kind of shell you don't have to
pay much attention to.
Those big fellas just make a lot of noise
and land about five miles behind the line.
The things we've got to watch
out for are the light ones.
They don't give you
much warning.
They go
"waa-aa-aah zing."
And when you hear that, down!
Mother Earth.
Press yourselves
down upon her.
Bury yourselves
deep into her.
Just keep your eyes on me.
When you see me flop,
you flop...
only try to beat me to it.
[ expl*si*n ]
Shh-shh. Now listen.
I'll show you
how it's done.
Give me a couple of those.
That's to k*ll the noise.
Tjaden.
[ expl*si*n ]
[ Machine g*n Fire,
Explosions ]
See that?
- What's that mean?
- Bombardment.
[ Screaming, Crying ]
[ Screaming ]
My eyes!
I'm blind!
I can't see! God!
- [ Explosions Continue ]
- My eyes! I can't see!
[ Continues Screaming ]
- [ Screaming ] I can't see!
- It's Behn! It's Behn!
[ Machine g*n Fire ]
- I'll go get him--
- You'll get k*lled!
[ Shouting ]
- Let me--
- Lay down and stay there!
He's dead.
- He's dead!
- Why did you risk your life
bringin' him in?
But it's Behn!
- My friend.
- He's a corpse, no matter who it is.
Now, don't any of you
ever do that again.
Put him over there.
- [ All ] Mind the wire.
- [ Kat ] Mind the wire.
- [ All ] Mind the wire.
- [ Kat ] Mind the wire.
- [ All ] Mind the wire.
- [ Kat ] Mind the wire.
All right, come on.
All right, come on.
Get your packs and fall in. Hurry up!
Come on. Hurry up.
Make it snappy.
Get your packs
and fall in.
Kat, what are we doing?
What's happening?
You heard him.
Orders to march.
- But where to, for the love of--
- Another party.
And this one is gonna
last a long time.
Come on.
Here we go.
Company, attention!
Shoulder arms!
March right, march!
- [ Explosions ]
- Take your hands off that!
- Q
- Queen takes it!
- Well, if you think
that's a queen, look again.
Ah, it's a jack.
- Yeah.
- Honest, these cards all look alike.
[ Laughing ]
It's too noisy!
I can't play.
- I suppose your delicate nerves
can't stand it.
- Get up!
That's Oscar.
The son of a--
Look at that!
Don't be so snooty.
You may wish you had this back.
About two more days
of this...
and this rat-bitten end of
a piece of bread's gonna taste
like a hunk of fruit cake.
It wouldn't-- It wouldn't last
two more days, would it?
Didn't I tell you
this was gonna be a bad one?
I don't mind
the days so much.
It's keeping up all night--
Ah, two more days
makes a week, kid.
Then you can say
you've been under fire!
You're not scared, are you?
No. I was just asking.
That's all.
- Wanna play some more?
- Do you?
- Sure.
- All right. My deal.
You better get your boot back
before Oscar eats that!
- [ Laughing ]
- The kid's all right.
[ Explosions Continue ]
[ Soldier Groaning ]
Behn!
Behn.
[ Kat ] Yeah, yeah.
Let him sleep. He's dreamin'.
Oh, God.
Can't you see it's Behn?
He didn't want
to come to w*r!
No, no.
It isn't Behn.
[ Shouting ]
It isn't Behn!
It's Kemmerick!
It's me!
Shut up, will you?
It's bad enough in here as it is.
[ Paul ]
Every--
Everything's all right,
Franz. You're dreaming.
You're just dreaming, I guess.
- Attention!
- At ease.
The barrage
is gettin' worse.
The men in two more
dugouts gone.
[ Explosions Continue ]
However, we'll do our best to get
some food up here by evening.
[ Whimpering, Moaning ]
[ Screaming ]
Stop! Stop!
[ All Shouting ]
[ Kemmerick ]
Let me out!
- What did you do that for?
- Shut up! Grab him.
- No.
- Now hold him.
[ Sobbing ]
You all right now?
I think so.
I couldn't hold out
much longer.
[ Screaming ]
[ Screaming ]
[ Paul Shouting ]
- Oh, God, it's Franz!
- Get him over there!
No, he's been hit in the stomach.
He can't have anything to drink.
Get a stretcher.
Where'd they get you,
Kemmerick?
Oh.
- Here it is, sir.
- Take his head.
All right. Take him out.
- Is it serious, sir?
- I'm not sure.
- Tell the others he's all right.
- Yes, sir.
If we're going to fight,
why don't we fight?
Why don't we go over?
You could go crazy
staying here.
Let's do something!
- Let's go after 'em!
- Sit down!
If that cook of ours had any guts,
he'd try to bring something through.
He's so far behind the lines
he can't hear the sh**ting!
- Here's Kat. Get anything?
- Any luck?
- We'll have to split this up among us.
- Something to eat!
[ All Shouting ]
We need butter too.
Yes. And dessert.
And a feather bed to sleep on.
- Rats!
- Rats!
- Rats!
Get out of the way!
[ All Shouting ]
- That's enough.
- That's enough, boys.
[ Explosions Cease ]
What's that?
- [ Whistle Blowing ]
- Come on! Grab your r*fles!
[ All Shouting ]
Come on!
[ Whistle Blowing ]
- [ Soldier #1 ] Here they come.
- [ Soldier #2 ] Get your grenades here.
Hurry up.
Come on, hurry up.
[ Distant Rumbling ]
[ Shells Whistling, Exploding ]
[ Shouting ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ All Shouting ]
Let's go! Let's go!
We can't hold this position.
Back to your own lines!
[ g*nf*re, Explosions Continue ]
♪ [ Singing Together In German ]
- Fill it up.
- And hurry up.
I've got other things to do.
I've been waiting for this
for three weeks.
When they all get here.
What do you want?
Beans, you homely-lookin'
son of a frog's leg.
- What do you think I want?
- [ Man ] We're hungry.
[ All Shouting ]
Shut up! I'll feed you
when you're all here.
- We're all here now.
- Only half the company's here.
Get the rest.
- Wake 'em up.
- [ All Laughing ]
I wish I could wake 'em up.
There's 80 of us left.
The rest is in dressing stations
or pushin' up daisies.
Eighty?
And I cooked for 150!
All right. We'll have enough
for once. Come on. Dish out!
You mean you've
cooked beans for 150...
and you've got bread for 150...
and sausage for 150,
and tobacco for 150?
Everything! It's all wrong.
I should have been notified.
What a feast!
- Everyone gets two issues.
- [ All Shouting ]
- Get back in line! Get back in line!
- Oh, no!
That won't do.
I can't give 80 men
what's meant for 150.
[ All Grumbling ]
Listen.
You drew rations
for the 2nd Company, didn't ya?
Yeah.
All right.
We're the 2nd Company.
- [ Approving Shouts ]
- I've got my orders.
- Kat's right.
- We're the 2nd Company.
And if only half of us get back,
that's our good luck.
- Come on. Dish it out.
- [ Men Shouting ] Come on!
- No!
- [ All ] Hey!
You're the yellowest baboon
that ever drew a cook wagon...
and you're scared--
it shows.
All we want to hear out of you
is one more little yip...
and we'll cut ya up
and eat ya raw.
Why, you keep your kitchen
so far back of the lines...
we never get anything to eat
until it's cold and we're asleep!
Now, you low-down rat, get out...
- or we wreck the joint!
- [ Approving Shouts ]
- Come on! Give us--
- Attention!
At ease.
What's goin' on here?
He's cooked for 150, sir,
and he only wants to give us half.
- Looks pretty good.
- Yes, sir.
- Serve the whole issue.
The men can use it.
- Yes, sir.
- And bring me a plate too.
- Yes, sir.
All right. Take it all.
Take everything.
Give 'em honey.
Give 'em what they want.
- Fill it up!
- Fill it up!
[ All Chattering ]
- Don't mind me.
- Oh, that's all right. Don't mention it.
You know...
I could do with
some more beans.
Go help yourself.
There's more over there.
[ Groaning ]
- It's too far.
- [ Kat Chuckling ]
- I wonder, when are we
going back to the front?
- Tomorrow.
It's enough to take away
a man's appetite.
You know, if they're gonna
march us in again tomorrow...
we ought to go see
how Kemmerick is.
- That's a good idea.
- Let's do that.
- How far is the dressing station?
- About two miles.
- We could take his things to him.
- Good.
It seemed rotten to think of a thing
like that happening to him...
a nice fellow like Kemmerick.
Ah, the French certainly deserve
to be punished for starting this w*r.
Everybody says
it's somebody else.
Well, how do they
start a w*r?
Well, one country
offends another.
How could one country
offend another?
You mean there's a mountain
over in Germany gets mad
at a field over in France?
- [ All Laughing ]
- Well, stupid,
one people offends another.
Oh, if that's it,
I shouldn't be here at all.
I don't feel offended.
It don't apply
to tramps like you.
Good. Then I can be
going home right away.
- Ah, you just try it.
- [ Kat ] Yeah. You wanna get shot?
- The kaiser and me--
- [Jeering, Snickering ]
Me and the kaiser felt
just alike about this w*r.
We didn't either of us
want any w*r, so I'm going home.
- He's there already.
- Somebody must have wanted it.
Maybe it was the English.
No, I don't want
to sh**t any Englishmen.
I never saw one
till I came up here.
And I suppose most of them never saw
a German till they came up here.
- No, I'm sure they weren't
asked about it.
- No.
Well...
it must be doing
somebody some good.
- Not me and the kaiser.
- I think maybe the kaiser wanted a w*r.
You leave us out of this!
I don't see that.
The kaiser's got
everything he needs.
Well, he never
had a w*r before.
Every full-grown emperor
needs one w*r to make him famous.
- Why, that's history.
- Yeah, generals too. They need w*r.
- And manufacturers. They get rich.
- [ Murmurs Of Agreement ]
I think it's more
a kind of fever.
Nobody wants it
in particular...
and then all at once,
there it is.
We didn't want it.
The English didn't want it.
And here we are fighting.
I'll tell you how
it should all be done.
Whenever there's
a big w*r comin' on...
- you should rope off a big field--
- And sell tickets.
Yeah. And--
And on the big day...
you should take all the kings
and their cabinets and their generals...
put them in the centre
dressed in their underpants...
and let 'em fight it out
with clubs.
- The best country wins.
- [ All Groan, Murmur ]
Well, now that Kat's settled everything,
let's go see Kemmerick.
- Something interesting
might happen on the way.
- Might cheer him up.
Boys, me and the kaiser want you
back in time to march tomorrow.
Don't forget.
- We'll be back.
- Give the boy my regards.
[ Soldiers Chattering ]
There he is.
- Hello, Kemmerick.
- How are ya?
- How's it going?
- How are things going?
- Are they looking after you all right?
How are they treating you?
Franz?
[ Groaning ]
They're robbers here.
Robbers.
They stole my watch!
I always told you, nobody
should carry as good a watch as that.
- They took it while I was under ether!
- Franz, you'll get it back.
Do you feel all right?
-Just look at my hand.
- That's because you lost so much blood.
-Just eat decently
and you'll get well again.
- Oh, no.
You must eat. That's the main thing.
It looks good too.
I have such a terrible pain
in my foot.
Every toe
on my right foot hurts.
Well, how can your foot hurt
when your leg's been--
[ Hysterically ]
I know what you mean!
I know!
I know now!
They cut my leg off.
Why didn't they tell me?
Why-- Why didn't they tell me?
- Franz! Franz!
- Now I can't walk any more!
You must be thankful that you've
come off with only that.
I wanted to be a forester once.
You can yet. They make artificial legs
that are wonderful.
And you're through too.
You can go home. Think of that.
We brought your things
for you. See?
Put 'em under the bed.
That's a marvellous pair of boots.
Look at that leather!
What comfort.
I was just thinking.
If you're not going to be using these,
Franz, why don't you leave 'em with us?
What good are they to you?
I can use 'em.
My boots give me blister
after blister--
Well, we'll be going, Franz.
Oh, don't go.
Stay just a little while longer.
- I'll come right back.
- We'll be coming soon again, Franz.
- I know you'll be feeling better.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Goodbye, Franz.
[ Albert ]
You think he'll last till after mess?
- I don't think--
- Done for.
[ Paul ] Boys, you go along.
I'll see you later.
[ Soldiers ]
Goodbye. All right, Paul.
I'm sorry, Paul.
I wouldn't touch a thing
of his if he could use it.
I'd go barefoot over barbed wire
for him if it'd do him any good.
Only-- Only why should
some orderly get those boots?
I understand, Mueller.
We're all alike out here.
And good boots are scarce.
Tell the doctor to come, please.
Doctor, the man in the next bed
would like to see you, sir.
I've done everything I can for him.
There's no helping him.
Poor little fella.
He says next time, Franz.
Do you think
I'll ever get well?
Why, of course.
- Do you really think so?
- Sure, once you get over the operation.
I don't think so.
Franz! Don't talk nonsense.
Why, you'll be as good as new.
They fix up worse things
than that.
Perhaps you'll go
to the convalescent home...
in Klosterberg
among the villagers.
Then you can look out of the
windows, across the fields...
to the two trees
on the horizon.
The loveliest time of the year
now when the corn ripens.
You can go out
without asking anyone.
You can even play piano
if you want to.
Oh-- Oh, but, Franz,
you must try to sleep now.
[ Sobbing ]
O God...
this is Franz Kemmerick...
only 19 years old.
He doesn't want to die.
Please don't let him die.
[ Whimpering ]
Paul.
- Paul.
- Franz.
Take my boots home
for Mueller.
Oh, no, Franz, no.
And if... Paul...
you find my watch,
send it home.
Franz!
Doctor. Doctor!
Doctor!
Doctor!
Where's the doctor?
Why isn't there
a doctor here?
- Doctor, come quick.
Franz Kemmerick is dying!
- Which one is that?
- Amputated leg.
- I've amputated a dozen legs today.
- Bed 26, sir.
- You see to it.
I'm due in the operating room.
- [ Seething ]
- One operation after another
since 5:00 this morning.
Sixteen dead today,
and yours is the 17th.
There'll probably be 20
by the morning.
[ Soldiers Chattering ]
[ Soldier #1 ]
You're lookin' good. Very good today.
[ Soldier #2 ] What's your hurry?
Hey! I'll bet he stole those boots!
[ Laughing ]
- I got it, Kat.
- Hmm?
Listen: "The sum of
an arithmetic series...
is S = A + L x N over 2."
- Interesting, isn't it?
- What do you wanna learn
that stuff for?
One day you'll stop a b*llet
and it'll all be worthless.
- I get a lot of fun out of it.
- Aah!
My boots!
Mueller.
I saw him die.
I didn't know what it was like
to die before.
And then--
then I came outside...
and it felt--
it felt so good to be alive
that I started in to walk fast.
I began to think of
the strangest things...
like being out in the fields.
Things like that.
You know-- girls.
And it felt
as if there were...
something electric running
from the ground up through me.
And I started.
I began to run hard.
I passed soldiers and I heard
voices calling to me.
I ran and I ran.
I felt as if I couldn't breathe
enough air into me.
And--
And now I'm hungry.
I don't mind the w*r now. Be a pleasure
to go to the front in boots like these.
[ g*nf*re, Explosions ]
[ g*nf*re, Explosions Continue ]
[ Whistle Blows ]
[ Men Laughing ]
It's a good invention
just the same.
If you crack each separate louse,
think of all the energy you use up. Watch.
- Burned to death.
- [ Laughing ]
- How was patrol? Bad?
- Must've been terrible if they
had time to gather the harvest.
We passed a cherry tree and when
he saw it, he went crazy.
I could hardly drag him away.
It was... beautiful.
I have a big orchard
with cherry trees at home.
When they're
in full blossom...
from the hayloft it looks
like one single sheet.
So white.
- Perhaps you can get leave soon.
- You may even be sent back as a farmer.
A woman can't run a farm alone.
That's no good, you know?
No matter how hard
she works.
Harvest coming on again.
What's the matter
with him?
Got a letter yesterday from his wife.
He wants to get back to his farm.
We'd all like
to get back home.
I wonder what we'd do
if it were suddenly peacetime again?
Get drunk
and look for women!
I'd go looking
for a Cinderella...
that could wear
this for a garter.
And when I'd found her,
nobody'd see me for two weeks.
I'll go back
to the peat fields...
and those pleasant hours
in the beer gardens.
And there's worse things
than cobbling too.
Look. My family.
I oughta give you a kick
in the backside for startin' all this.
It's all right for all you to talk.
You've got something to go back to:
wives, children, jobs.
But what about us?
What have we got to go back to?
- School?
- Why not? You know everything already.
A man can't take all that rubbish
they teach you seriously...
after three years
of shells and bombs.
- You can't peel that off easily.
- They never taught us
anything really useful...
like how to light a cigarette in the
wind or make a fire out of wet wood...
or bayonet a man in the belly instead of
the ribs where it gets jammed.
What can happen
to us afterwards?
I'll tell ya.
Take our class.
Out of 20,
three are officers...
nine dead...
Mueller and three others
wounded...
and one in the madhouse.
We'll all be dead someday,
so let's forget it.
[ Man Shouting ] Hurry up!
Get in there! Hurry up!
Himmelstoss!
[ Laughing ]
- [ Laughing Continues ]
- What's up?
- What are you, crazy?
- It's Himmelstoss!
Himmelstoss?
There is justice in the army!
Well, well.
So, we are all here, huh?
- A bit longer than you, Himmie.
- Since when have we become so familiar?
Stand up and click your heels
together! All of you!
- Take a running jump
at yourself! [ Laughs ]
- Who's your friend?
Would somebody get General Ludendorff
a nice, comfortable chair?
- [ Laughing ]
- I command you
as your superior officer!
- Do you want to be court-martialled?
- I do!
There's going to be a big attack tonight
and I'd just love to get out of it.
- [ Laughing ]
- Will you obey my orders?
Kiss my butt!
It isn't customary to ask for salutes
here. But I'll tell you what we'll do.
We're going to attack a town
that we tried to take once before.
Many k*lled and many wounded.
It was great fun.
This time
you're going with us.
If any of us stops a b*llet,
before we die...
we're going to come to you, click
our heels together and ask stiffly...
-"Please, Sergeant Himmelstoss,
may we go?"
- You'll--
You'll pay for this, you--
[ Distant expl*si*n ]
- There it is.
- [ Explosions Continue ]
Right on time.
Better get ready, boys.
[ Explosions Continue ]
[ Blows Whistle ]
[ Shells Whistling ]
[ Whimpering ]
I'm wounded!
I'm wounded!
It's just a scratch, you yellow rat!
Up! Get out with the others!
- Up!
- No! No! No!
- You yellow rat!
- [ Whimpering ]
Stinking yellow rat!
Let the others do it, eh?
Get up!
Get up!
- Aa-aah!
- Get up! Forward!
- Get out here!
- Command... was forward.
Command was forward!
Forward!
Forward! Forward!
- Forward!
- [ Men Shouting ]
Forward!
[ Shells Continue Whistling ]
[ Bombing Ceases ]
Counter-attack.
- [ Men Shouting ]
- [ Explosions Resume ]
[ Machine g*n Fire ]
[ Screaming ]
[ Wheezing ]
I want to help you.
I want to help you.
[ Explosions, g*nf*re Continue ]
- [ Wheezing ]
- Stop that! Stop it, stop it.
I can bear the rest of it.
I can't listen to that!
Why do you take so long dying?
You're going to die anyway!
Oh, no.
[ Indistinct ]
Oh, no.
You won't die.
Oh, no. You won't die.
They're only little wounds.
You'll get home.
You'll be all right.
You'll get home long before I will.
[ Explosions, g*nf*re Continue ]
You know I can't run away.
That's why you accuse me.
I tell you, I didn't want to k*ll you.
I tried to keep you alive.
If you jumped in here again,
I wouldn't do it.
When you jumped in here you were
my enemy, and I was afraid of you.
But you'rejust a man like me,
and I k*lled you.
Forgive me, comrade.
Say that for me.
Say you forgive me.
Oh, no.
You're dead.
You're better off than I am.
You're through.
They can't do any more
to you now.
Oh, God, why did they
do this to us?
We only wanted to live,
you and l.
Why should they send us out
to fight each other?
If we threw away these r*fles
and these uniforms...
you could be my brother
just like Kat and Albert.
You'll have to forgive me,
comrade. I'll do all I can.
I'll write to your parents.
I'll write to--
I'll write to your wife.
I'll write to her.
I promise she'll not want
for anything.
I'll help her
and your parents too.
Only forgive me.
Forgive me!
[ Sobbing ]
Forgive me. Forgive me.
Forgive me.
Terrible thing
happened yesterday.
I stabbed a man.
With my own hands, stabbed him.
I know how it is.
Your first time.
Never mind. The stretcher-bearers
will find him.
- He's dead. I watched him die.
- You couldn't do anything about it.
We have to k*ll.
We can't help it.
That's what we are here for.
Uh-- Look there, for instance.
- [ Fires ]
- Hah! That got him.
You should've seen how
he leaped in the air.
That fellow had to sh**t with us
for today with three hits.
If he keeps it up,
he'll have a decoration
for his buttonhole this evening.
Don't you lose any more sleep
over this business.
Maybe it was 'cause I was
out there with him so long, huh?
Sure, that's it.
After all, w*r is w*r.
[ Fires ]
♪ [ Soldiers Singing In German ]
[ Man #1 ]
March! Forward!
Forward, march!
[ Man #2 ]
Quick there! Forward!
[ Man #1 ]
Company... halt!
Dismissed!
Uncommissioned officers,
enlisted men...
dismissed!
[ Soldiers Shouting ] Hooray!
Come on! Let's get outta here!
♪ [ Soldiers Singing
In German ]
- Give me your best sausage.
- Two.
Give me a beer.
[ All ]
One, two, three! [ German ]
♪ [ Continues ]
Hey, come on. A beer.
[ Muttering ]
∮ De da de de de de ∮
Hey, get out of here!
Come on.
Give me a beer.
Oh, ho ho!
A beer. One b--
[ German ]
Here's hoping we get
falling-down drunk tonight.
Here's how it started.
I'd forgotten
there were girls like that.
There aren't.
Just look at those thin,
little shoes.
She couldn't march
many miles in those.
Paul! Don't speak about marching.
You're boring the young lady.
A thousand pardons.
- How old do you think she is?
- Oh, about 22.
No, that'd make her
older than us.
She's... 17.
A girl like that.
That'd be good, eh, Albert?
We wouldn't have much of
a chance with him around.
- We could take a bath,
wash our clothes--
- All right.
and I might even go so far
as to get deloused.
Wait a minute!
She's a long way from here now.
Look at the date.
May, 1917.
- Four months ago.
- That's true.
Well, here's to her anyway.
Here's to 'em all,
everywhere.
Albert...
- we might as well wash up anyway.
- All right.
Personally, I like 'em
bigger around.
This conversation was on
a high moral plane up to now.
Now we do need a bath.
- A bath?
- For what?
Hm. You wouldn't understand.
This water is freezing.
This romantic business has gone too far.
- Ahh, but think of her beautiful eyes!
- Oh!
Oh, and her hair.
- Here we are!
- We're not gonna miss a thing!
- Go away!
- What are you doing here?
- Bathing!
They tell me there's some people
in this world takes a bath every week!
-♪ [ Women Singing In French ]
- Women!
[ Animal Lowing ]
[ Mouthing Words ]
♪ [ Dies Down, Stops ]
- [ Paul ]
Mademoiselle, you want to swim?
- [ All Laughing, Shouting ]
[ Shouting In French ]
[ French Continues ]
[ French ]
[ French ]
Aw, baby!
Aw, no, girls!
Don't go away!
[ Shouting, Indistinct ]
Aw, mama!
[ All Shouting In French ]
- Please don't go!
- Don't go away!
Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!
[ Shouting In French ]
Food! Food!
Whoo-hoo!
[ French ]
[ All Shouting ]
Halt! You know
you're forbidden to cross.
You fellows stay on this side or you'll
get yourselves in a lot of trouble.
[ French ]
- What are they jabberin' about?
- They want us to swing over tonight.
They're expecting us.
- That's fine!
- We'll do it!
- That blonde's crazy about me.
- But there's four of us
and only three of them.
- I was the one that stopped 'em!
That blonde piece of work is mine.
You three fight for what's left.
Fight's the word.
AlI's fair in love and w*r.
Huh? What do you mean?
What're you gonna do?
You'll find out.
Au revoir!
Au revoir!
- [ Rapping ]
- [ Woman, French ]
- C'est moi, blondie!
- Bon ami! Bon ami!
Vos camarades!
Vos camarades!
Ooh!
[ French ]
She means the door.
[ Women Cackling ]
[ Men Laughing ]
[ Soldiers ] Not only modest,
but dashing! A perfect fit.
- It might've been made for me.
- An officer's coat. We're calling
distinguished company.
- Ha ha! Ha ha ha!
- [ French ]
[ French ]
[ Women Shouting ]
Merci.
[ French ]
[ Women Speaking French ]
- [ Soldiers Chattering ]
- Have another little drink, comrade.
Is this your birthday or mine?
Why?
You've been buying me drink
after drink for two hours.
What I'm tryin'
to figure out is why.
Why?
Why?
Oh! Ha-ha!
Oh. I-It's just
that the boys...
told me to amuse you
for a little while.
- [ Laughing ]
- Oh, nice boys.
Yeah!
They-They said
you'd understand.
Ehh... heh. Huh?
I've been betrayed!
Yeah, you certainly have.
- Take that for a minute!
- [ Laughter ]
I'll give you more!
Ahh.
[ Snoring ]
It's too loud.
[ Bottles Clinking ]
[ Grinding Sound ]
Pauvre garcon.
Pauvre petit garcon.
- Darling.
- Quoi?
- What's your name?
-Je ne comprends pas.
Name. How do you say name?
Georgette? Camille?
Oh, mon nom. Suzanne.
Suzanne.
Et toi? Quel est ton nom?
- Paul.
- Paul. C'est un joli nom.
Suzanne, I wish
I could tell you something.
- I wish you could understand.
- Oh, non, non. l faut pas--
Darling, I'll never see you again.
I know that.
And I wouldn't even know you if I did.
And yet,
I'll remember you always.
Toujours.
Oh, if you could only know how different
this is from the women we soldiers meet.
Oh, non, non, l faut tout oublier.
C'est cette guerre, cette terrible guerre!
No, no, no. Not the w*r.
You. That's what I'm talking about.
Vous.
It seems as though all w*r
and terror and grossness...
had fallen away from me...
like a miracle.
Like something
I never believed.
Pauvre garcon.
Pauvre garcon.
Call Paul.
We're going, Paul.
[ Paul ] Have a look.
Nice, new coffins. Huh! For us.
I must say, that's a very cheerful
preparation for this offensive.
That's very considerate of them.
But I don't see any long enough
for our comrade Tjaden.
Mind you, I'm not speaking
to you, you traitors.
- But no coffin's gonna get me.
- I should say not, heartbreaker.
You'll be thankful if they
slip a waterproof sheet...
- around that Aunt Sally
of a carcass of yours.
- [ Laughter ]
- [ expl*si*n ]
- [ Soldiers Shouting ]
[ Groaning ]
Oh-Oh, my side!
[ Groaning ]
My side.
Catholic hospital, Albert.
[ Groans ] They say you always get
good food and good treatment.
- We're lucky.
- After that rainy dressing station...
and 24 hours on the train,
we deserve to have some luck.
[ Wheezing Laughter ]
I'm Hamacher.
Yeah, that's my name.
I got a crack in the head
and they gave me a certificate stating...
"Josef Hamacher
is periodically...
not responsible
for his actions."
And ever since then,
Hamacher has been having a grand time.
I hope you boys are not
too badly wounded. [ Laughing ]
The others die off so quickly
we don't have time to get acquainted.
You'll get to know us...
very well.
Thank you. You too.
I'm sorry, my dear.
It's time to go now.
Yes, sister.
Watch.
If they take his clothes away,
you've seen the last of him.
- See? They're taking him
to the dying room.
- Dying room?
When you're ready to kick the bucket,
they get you out of the way
so they can use the bed.
In the corner of the building
there's a little room...
right next to the morgue!
[ Laughs ]
It's so convenient.
It saves a lot of trouble.
But suppose he gets well?
I've seen a lot of'em
go in that dying room...
but nobody ever comes back.
[ Quietly ]
Sister.
Sister. Sister.
- [ Albert ] Is that you ringing, Paul?
- Yes.
- [ Hamacher ] Is something going on?
- I think I have a haemorrhage.
The bandage is all wet. I've been
ringing forever and nobody comes.
- I think I'm bleeding.
- Sister, get me a sterile
dressing and an ice pack.
- Why didn't someone call me?
- [ Albert ] He's been ringing.
[ Hamacher ]
Nobody can walk, Sister.
- [ Albert ] Sister, is it bad?
- No. No, we'll be all right.
We've got it in time.
[ Paul Whimpering ]
What's the matter?
What are you doing?
We must rearrange
your bandages.
Wh-- Where are you
taking me?
To the bandaging ward.
- No, no! I'm not going! I'm staying here!
- [ Albert ] Paul! Paul!
- Now, now!
- I'm not going to the dying room!
- We're going to the bandaging ward.
- Why are you taking my clothes?
You're lying to me!
But I'll come back. I won't die!
I'll come back!
I won't die!
I'll come back!
I won't die!
I'm not going to die!
I'll come back!
[ Hamacher ]
Sister Libertine, how is he?
Poor boy.
They had to amputate his leg.
Paul. Paul.
Paul.
Oh, he is...
gone.
Gone.
Hello.
Welcome home, Albert!
- How do you feel, kid?
- All right.
But I've got such
an awful pain.
My foot hur--
Hamacher.
Did they cut my leg off?
Of course not!
How many did you have? Two?
You still got 'em!
One, two! [ Laughs ]
Don't play the fool, Hamacher.
Tell me truthfully.
Of course not.
And you look fine.
Look. See?
- [ Gasps ] I won't be a cr*pple.
- Now, now.
- I won't live like that!
- Be calm.
- I'll k*ll myself the first chance I get!
- Albert!
- I won't live! I won't live!
- Yes, you will.
Albert! Albert!
Albert, I've come back!
I told you I'd come back.
Look, everybody! I've come back!
- [ Albert ] Paul! Paul!
- That's not where I'm going.
I live over there.
Paul, I'm so happy.
Hamacher, I've come back
from the dead!
- It's most irregular.
Never happened before.
- Albert, get well quickly...
so we can go home soon.
- Everything will be all right now.
- Yes, Paul.
Everything will be
all right... now.
[ Bell Ringing ]
Oh! Paul! Paul!
Paul.
- What's the matter, Paul?
- Nothing.
Nothing.
Paul.
Give me your
handkerchief.
- Mother?
- [ Woman ] Here I am, Paul. Here I am.
Mother's ill.
- Are you wounded?
- No, Mother. I got leave.
[ Relieved Sigh ]
[ Sobbing ]
Here I am cryin'
instead of being glad.
Anna, get down
the jar of blackberries.
You still like them,
don't you?
Yes, Mother. I haven't had any
for a long time.
We might almost have known
you were coming.
- I'm making potato cakes.
- [ Mother ] Don't let them burn.
Paul... sit down...
beside me.
My Paul.
My baby.
I almost forgot, Mother.
I've got some little presents for you.
Look, Mother.
Bread, sausage and rice.
- Paul, you've been starving yourself.
- Hmm-mm.
Hadn't I better go
and tell Father PauI's home?
- Paul could watch
the things on the stove.
- No, I'm getting up.
Oh, Paul,
you're a soldier now, aren't you?
But somehow,
I don't seem to know you.
I'll take these off, Mother.
I'll get your suit. It's in
the wardrobe, just where you left it.
Are you really here, Paul?
You won't--
You won't disappear, will you?
No. I'm here.
Your things are ready
for you, Paul.
- I remember when you caught that one.
- Yes.
And you took it away
from me, didn't you?
- [ Giggles ]
- Yes, I did.
We're behind the lines,
but we know how to honour the soldier...
who goes on in spite
of blood and death.
Gentlemen, my son.
- Prosit.
- Prosit.
I'm glad to know you, young man,
I am glad to know you.
How are things out there?
Terrible, eh? Terrible.
But we must carry on.
After all, you do at least
get decent food out there.
Naturally, it's worse here.
Naturally.
But the best for our soldiers
all the time. That's our motto.
- The best for our soldiers.
- [ Murmurs Of Agreement ]
But...
[ Chuckles ]
- you must give the Frenchies
a good licking!
- [ All Laughing ]
And, if you boys
want to come home, eh...
let me show you what you must do
before you can come home.
Give us a hand there, men.
Now, then, there's the line.
Runs so, in a "V".
Here is St Quentin.
You can see for yourself.
You're almost through now.
All right?
Shove ahead out there and don't stick
to that everlasting trench warfare!
Smash through the johnnies!
And then you will have peace.
When you get in it... the w*r isn't
the way it looks back here.
Oh! You don't know
anything about it.
Of course, you know
about the details...
but this relates to the whole!
You can't judge that.
Of course, you do your duty
and you risk your life.
But for that, you receive
the highest honour.
I said that every man in the w*r
ought to have the lron Cross.
First, the enemy lines
must be broken through in Flanders.
- On to Paris! Push on to Paris!
- Right.
No, not in Flanders. I'll tell you
just where the break should come.
- Here.
- The enemy has too many reserves there.
- I insist upon Flanders!
- Why should they do that...
when they're halfway
through St Quentin already?
Because Flanders
is a flat country!
- No mountains, no obstructions!
- There's too many rivers there!
[ Professor ]
From the farms they have gone;
from the schools,
from the factories.
They have gone bravely,
nobly, ever forward...
realizing there is no other duty now
but to save the fatherland.
Paul!
How are you, Paul?
Glad to see you, Professor.
You've come at the right moment,
Baumer! Just at the right moment.
And as if to prove all I have said,
here is one of the first to go.
A lad who sat before me
on these very benches...
who gave up all to serve
in the first year of the w*r;
one of the iron youth who have
made Germany invincible in the field.
Look at him--
sturdy and bronze and clear-eyed.
The kind of soldier
every one of you should envy.
Oh, lad, you must
speak to them.
You must tell them what it means
to serve your fatherland.
- No, I can't tell them anything.
- You must, Paul.
Just a word.Just tell them
how much they're needed out there.
Tell them why you went
and what it meant to you.
I can't say anything.
You can remember some deed of heroism,
some touch of nobility.
- Tell about it.
- [ Enthusiastic Chattering ]
I can't tell you
anything you don't know.
We live in the trenches
out there. We fight.
We try not to be k*lled;
sometimes we are.
That's all.
[ Professor ]
No. No, Paul.
I've been there!
I know what it's like.
That's not what one
dwells on, Paul.
I heard you in here reciting
that same old stuff...
making more iron men,
more young heroes.
You still think it's beautiful and sweet
to die for your country, don't you?
We used to think you knew.
The first bombardment
taught us better.
It's dirty and painful
to die for your country.
When it comes to dying for your country,
it's better not to die at all!
There are millions out there dying for
their countries, and what good is it?
- [ All Chattering ]
- [ Professor ] Paul!
You asked me to tell them
how much they're needed out there.
He tells you, "Go out and die."
Oh, but if you'll pardon me,
it's easier to say "Go out
and die" than it is to do it.
- [ Boy ] Coward!
- And it's easier to say it
than to watch it happen.
- [ Angry Clamouring ]
- [ Professor ] No! No! Boys, boys!
- I'm sorry, Baumer, but I must say--
- It's no use talking like this.
You won't know
what I mean.
Only, it's been a long while since
we enlisted out of this classroom.
So long I thought maybe the whole
world had learned by this time.
Only now they're sending babies,
and they won't last a week!
I shouldn't have come
on leave.
Up at the front you're alive
or you're dead, and that's all!
You can't fool anybody
about that very long.
Up there we know we're lost and
done for whether we're dead or alive.
Three years we've had of it--
four years.
Every day a year
and every night a century.
Our bodies are earth
and our thoughts are clay...
and we sleep
and eat with death.
We're done for because you can't live
that way and keep anything inside you!
I shouldn't have come on leave.
I'll go back tomorrow.
I've got four days more, but I can't
stand it here! I'll go back tomorrow!
Sorry.
Mother, you'll catch cold here.
You must go to sleep.
There'll be plenty of time
to sleep...
when you're gone.
Must you go tomorrow, Paul?
Must you?
Yes, Mother.
Orders were changed.
Are you very much afraid, Paul?
No, Mother.
There's something I want
to say to you, Paul.
It's--
Just be on your guard
against the women out there.
They're no good.
Where we are,
there aren't any women, Mother.
Be very careful
at the front, Paul.
Yes, Mother, I will.
I'll pray for you every day.
And if you could, get a job
that's not quite so dangerous.
Yes, Mother.
I'll try and get in the cookhouse.
- That can easily be done.
- You do it then, and if
the others say anything--
That won't worry me, Mother.
Now, you must go to bed and you must
get well quickly before I come back.
I put two sets of underwear--
new ones-- in your pack.
They'll keep you
nice and warm.
[ Choking ]
They're all wool.
That's sweet of you.
Goodnight... my son.
Goodnight, Mother.
Oh, Mother, Mother.
You still think I'm a child.
Why can't I put my head
in your lap and cry?
- Is this the 2nd Company?
- Yes, sir.
♪ [ Concertina ]
♪ [ Whistling ]
- Is this all of it?
- Yes, sir.
We had 150 men, but this is all
that came back yesterday.
But now they're going to give us
enough to make 150 again.
How old are you?
Sixteen.
No use.
I couldn't find anything.
- We'll have to eat the sawdust.
- [ Discontented Grumbles ]
Not me! I'll go hungry first.
It makes me sick.
Now it's gonna be
a real w*r again.
Paul!
How's old Paul?
Here I am.
You know, the 2nd Company's
getting hard to find.
Nobody seemed to know where you were.
I'm glad you found it.
I guess I don't get
much of this.
There used to be some food
in the sawdust. Now it's all sawdust.
No joke, either.
Eats ya up inside.
This doesn't look much
like the old 2nd Company.
The replacements are all like that.
Not even old enough to carry a pack.
All they know
how to do is die.
I guess... some of
the old-timers are here yet.
Paul, they're tryin' to invent
somethin' to k*ll me right now.
Where's Westhus?
Messenger dog was wounded.
He went out to get it. [ Clucks Tongue ]
- Is it true about the armistice?
- Doesn't look that way back there.
- You mean they want us
to go on fighting?
- That's what they say.
They're crazy!
Germany'll be empty
pretty soon.
Where is--
Where is Detering?
He got homesick. You remember
about the cherry blossoms?
I guess he never got over that.
He started out one night to go home
and help his wife with the farm.
They got him behind the lines,
and we never heard of him since.
He was just homesick, but probably
they couldn't see it that way.
- Where's Kat? Is he--
- [ Chuckles ]
Not Kat! If he were out,
the w*r would be over.
You remember what he always says:
They're savin' him for the last.
- Where is he?
- He's out lookin' for food,
something to make soup with.
- Which way?
- Down the road about two miles that way.
I'll see you later.
Kat!
Paul!
Hello, Paul.
- How's the side?
- Oh, it's all right now. It's fine.
- Have any luck?
- No, the general's staff's been
over this country with a rake.
[ Chuckles ]
Let's sit down there.
Tell me, Paul...
how was it at home?
Have a good leave?
- In spots.
- What's the matter?
Ohh... I'm no good
for back there any more, Kat.
None of us are.
We've been in this too long.
The young men thought I was
a coward because I told them that...
we learn that death is stronger
than duty to one's country.
The old men said,
"Go on. Push on to Paris."
My father even wanted me
to wear my uniform around him.
It's not home
back there any more.
All I could think of was, "I'd like to
get back and see Kat again."
You're all I've got left, Kat.
I'm not much to have left.
I missed you, Paul.
At least we know what it's all about
out here. There're no lies here.
Push on to Paris?
You ought to see what they've got
on the other side.
They eat white bread
over there.
They've got dozens of aeroplanes
to our one...
and tanks that'll
go over anything.
What've we got left?
g*ns so worn they drop shells
on our own men.
No food, no amm*nit*on,
no officers.
Push on to Paris!
So that's the way they talk
back there. [ Chuckles ]
I guess we'd
better be going.
How I lied
to my poor mother.
I told her it wasn't so bad
out here because there was
always a lot of us together.
Now that I'm with you, I'm beginning
to believe that I told her the truth.
Down!
That's another one that missed us.
Come on. Let's go.
Wait a minute. Looks like
the old bread wagon's broke down.
- I guess I don't walk
the rest of the way.
- Did that get ya, Kat?
Aah, I think
it broke my shin.
That's not so bad.
Hold it together.
-Just my luck, huh?
- Good luck. That means the w*r is over.
Oh, no, sir!
This w*r don't end
till they really get me.
- [ Chuckles ]
- Now this one--
- Aah.
- Easy, now.
- Hey!
- Easy!
Easy!
Come on. I'll take you in.
Give me your hand.
Easy.
[ Grunts ]
All right.
Well, kid...
now we're gonna be separated.
Maybe we can do something together
later on when the w*r is over.
- Yes, kid.
- You give me your address,
I'll give you mine.
You can't get both of us
in one day.
Ah, we'll surely
see each other again, Kat.
Remember that day when you brought
the whole pig into the factory?
And that day in the woods when you
taught us how to dodge shells?
And my first bombardment.
How I cried.
I was a young recruit then.
Here we are.
Here we are.
[ Grunts ]
All right now, Kat.
You could've spared yourself
the trouble. He's dead.
Oh, no. He's just fainted.
He was hit in the shin.
He's dead.
Would you like to take
his pay book?
- You're not related, are you?
- No, we're not related.
Your deal.
Get his name and number?
Yeah, Corporal
Stanislaus Katczinsky, 306.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)
Moderator: Maskath3
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