The Dehumanization of the Soldier

The process by which the soldiers are reduced to animals, losing their individuality and humanity in order to survive.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Training

The Training The Breaking The training is designed to break the recruits' individuality. They learn to obey without thinking. Their personalities are erased. The Drill The endless drill, the saluting, the inspections—all serve to dehumanize them. They become cogs in a machine. The Result By the time they reach the front, they are no longer individuals. They are soldiers, conditioned to kill and survive.

The Animal Instinct

The Animal Instinct The Transformation In battle, the soldiers become animals. They act on instinct, not reason. They kill without thought. The Loss of Empathy They become indifferent to the suffering of others. The dead are just obstacles. The wounded are left behind. The Survival The only goal is survival. All other considerations are dropped. The soldier is dehumanized by the necessity of staying alive.

The Return to Humanity

The Return to Humanity The Respite During rest, the soldiers begin to feel human again. They joke, play cards, and enjoy good food. But the humanity is fragile. The Fear of Losing It Paul fears that he will never be able to return to a normal life. The dehumanization has been too deep. The Failure In the end, the dehumanization wins. Paul dies as a soldier, not as a man. The war has destroyed his humanity.

During basic training

During the attack

In moments of rest