The Hospital Stays

Paul and Albert Kropp's experience in the Catholic hospital, from the journey to the operations, the Dying Room, and the bureaucracy of healing.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Wounded and Evacuated

Wounded and Evacuated The Shelling While evacuating a village, a shell lands near Paul and Albert. Paul is hit in the leg, Albert in the knee. They drag each other to a ditch and then to a dressing station. The Hospital Train They are put on a hospital train. Paul is embarrassed by the clean sheets because he is lousy. The sister is kind. They manage to stay together by bribing the sergeant-major with cigars. The Arrival They are taken to a Catholic hospital in Cologne. The treatment is good, but the morning prayers disturb their sleep. Paul throws a bottle to stop the praying, and a fellow patient with a shooting license takes the blame.

The Operations

The Operations The Surgery Paul is operated on; his leg is set in plaster. He vomits for two days. Albert's leg is amputated. Paul tries to comfort him, but Albert is in despair, threatening suicide. The Dying Room Paul learns about the Dying Room, where terminally ill patients are taken. He witnesses the death of Franz Wachter and the return of Peter, who miraculously survives. The hospital is a microcosm of the war's horror. The Surgeons They encounter a surgeon who wants to operate on flat feet, leaving patients crippled. The war has turned medicine into a brutal factory. The men are just numbers.

Convalescence and Parting

Convalescence and Parting The Recovery Paul's leg heals. He goes to massage therapy. Albert's stump is healing, but he is silent and depressed. Paul tries to cheer him up, but the bond is strained by Albert's loss. The Visit of Lewandowski's Wife Lewandowski, a Polish soldier, is visited by his wife. The men arrange a private moment for them. The scene is both touching and awkward, a reminder of the life outside the war. The Parting Paul receives convalescent leave and leaves Albert behind. The parting is hard, but Paul knows he must return to the front. The hospital has been a temporary refuge, but the war awaits.

During the retreat from the village

During the first weeks in the hospital

After several weeks, when Paul is nearly healed