The Bond of the Comrades

The collective bond among the soldiers of the Second Company, which provides the only reliable support and meaning in the face of death.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Group at Rest

The Group at Rest The Gang Paul, Kropp, Müller, Leer, Tjaden, Haie, Detering, and Kat form a close-knit group. They share food, jokes, and dangers. They are more than friends; they are a family. The Latrine Conversations Their conversations range from the trivial to the profound. They discuss the war, the future, and their fears. The latrine is their common room. The Solidarity The group sticks together in every battle. They look out for one another. The bond is the only thing that makes the war bearable.

The Shared Suffering

The Shared Suffering The Bombardment During the heavy bombardments, the men huddle together in the dugout. They share the same fear and the same hope. The group identity overwrites individual panic. The Attack In the attack, they fight as a unit. They cover each other, share ammunition, and carry the wounded. The bond is tested and strengthened. The Losses As each friend dies, the group shrinks. The survivors feel the loss acutely. The bond is also a burden, as each death is a wound.

The Last of the Seven

The Last of the Seven The Survivor Paul is the last of the seven classmates. He is completely alone. The bond that sustained him is gone. The Loneliness He sits in the garden, thinking of his friends. The war has taken them all. He has no one left to share his thoughts with. The End Paul's death is the final dissolution of the group. The bond of the comrades lasts only as long as they live.

The opening scene and throughout the novel

During the major battles

October 1918