All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

[bunniefuu]

Thirty thousand.

From the Russians?

No, from the French.

From the Russians, we capture
more than that every day.

Mr. Postman.

w*r is w*r and schnapps is
schnapps, but 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.

C'mon, there must be something.

Here, here you go, young rascal.

There. This is the last
mail I deliver, anyhow.

What?

Tomorrow I change uniform.

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.

...and join the mighty army

that is 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 honor
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 for your lives.

The field of honor 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 I, too,
look to you, Paul Bäumer,

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.

Follow me! Enlist now!

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!

Sing! Let's sing! Come on!

Keep in line, there, soldiers.

Anything you say, General.

Detail, halt!

Left face!

Get into uniform, ready to report.
Fall out.

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.

Well, if I'm gonna bump off the
enemy, I gotta have some practice.

Ow!

Bayonet drill.
That's what I want.

You won a medal
that time, Mueller.

You wait. In about a month,
I'll be covered with them.

Say, keep your boots
out of my face.

Why, it's an honor to have
those boots in your face.

They're the best pair in the army.
My uncle gave them to me.

Just look at that
special imported leather.

Put them 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, Himmelstoss?

When you address your
superior officer, say "sir."

Where'd he get
such a nice uniform?

Will there be any
mail for us, Himmie?

Quiet!

My dear fellow, you're shouting.

Come on, Himmelstoss.
We know you.

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!
Don't even think about it.

All of you! Line up, I say!

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!

Attention!

Detachment, lie down!

Down!

Head down!

Keep your head down, Bäumer!

Detachment, get up!

Advance!

Now, sing!

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!

Men, halt!

Order, arms!

Inspection at 3:00. Dismissed!

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!

Left, hut...

Squad, left march!

Forward, march! Left.

Detachment, halt!

Present arms!

Himmelstoss.

Excellent work. They're
going up front tomorrow.

I recommend leave till midnight.

Very good, sir.

Left shoulders, arms!

Forward march. Left,
left, straight ahead!

Now, left.

We're clear.

Left, left, left.

Detachment, lie down!

Crawl forward!

He spoiled our leave. I'll
never forgive him for that.

The rat!

Leave till midnight.

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 when he's down.
I feel mean.

What are you doing?

You're not going
to desert, are you?

What?

Listen. I've got an idea.

Crawl forward. Lie down.

Lie down. Crawl forward.

What?

Here comes an officer.

Get him out of here.

Cover!

Paul, are you all right?

You all right?

Behn! Behn!

Behn! Come on!

Behn, come on. You fool, Behn.

Get up! Come on.

Sounds like more
replacements coming in.

Yeah. Tjaden must have
gone home for that wood.

Here's some more,
fresh from the turnip patch.

I suppose this is where we bunk.

That's me, "I. Westhus,"

and this is where he lives.

I didn't know.

Well, you know now.

Yes. Yes, of course.

It's all right.

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 sh*t off.

Well, there must be
something to eat somewhere.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll ask those fellows.

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.

Well, what's funny about that?

This is a bad town to bring
an appetite to, soldier.

We've been here
since yesterday morning

and we've been living on
baled hay and razor blades.

We're willing to buy our food.
Where's the canteen?

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!

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Attention!

What is this?

Volunteers for
the future general 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?
- Yes.

Wait! Wait a minute. 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.

- Hey, Kat!
- Yeah?

Are you crazy? There ain't
enough here for us.

I wish you three
would get bumped off.

I'm tired of feeding
you for nothing.

Bring everything you've got.

I'm so hungry...

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 them 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.

For the fatherland!

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
having 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.

Yeah?

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 shellfire,

and you're gonna be scared, see?

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.

That kind of shell you don't
have to pay much attention to.

Those big fellows
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 "waah 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 b*at me to it.

Now, listen.

I'll show you how it's done.

Give me a couple of those.
That's to k*ll the noise.

Tjaden.

See that?

What's that mean?

Bombardment.

My eyes!

I'm blind!

I can't see! God!

My eyes! I can't see!

Oh, God!

- It's Behn! It's Behn!
- I can't see!

- I'll go get him...
- You'll get k*lled!

- Leave him.
- What?

- Let me...
- Lay down and stay there!

You'll get your head sh*t off.

He's dead.

He's dead.

Why did you risk your
life bringing him in?

But it's Behn.

My friend.

It's a corpse,
no matter who it is.

Now, don't any of you
ever do that again.

Put him over there.

Mind the wire.

Mind the wire.

Mind the wire.

Mind the wire.

All right, come on.

All right, come on. Get your
packs and fall in. Hurry up.

Come on. Hurry up. Come on.
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!

Take your hands off that!

Queen takes it!

Well, if you think
that's a queen, look again.

It's a jack.

Yeah.

Honest, these cards
all look alike.

It's too noisy! I can't play.

- I suppose your delicate nerves...
- Get up.

...can't stand it.

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 just like
a hunk of fruitcake.

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 that's...

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.

Want to play some more?

Do you?

Sure.

All right. My deal.

You better get your boot
back before Oscar eats that.

The kid's all right.

Behn.

Behn.

Yeah, yeah. Let him
sleep. He's dreaming. - Behn.

Oh, God.
Can't you see it's Behn?

He didn't want to come to w*r.

No, no.

It isn't Behn.

It isn't Behn!

It's Kemmerick! It's me!

Shut up, will you? It's bad
enough in here as it is.

Every...

Everything's all right, Franz.

You're dreaming.

I see something.

You're just dreaming, I guess.

- Attention!
- At ease.

The barrage is getting worse.

Men in two more dugouts, gone.

However, we'll do our best to get
some food up here by evening.

Stop!

Let me out.

What did you do that for?

Shut up! Grab him.

- No.
- Now hold him.

You all right now?

I think so.

I couldn't hold out much longer.

Let me out!

It's going to k*ll me!

Very good.

Oh, my God, it's Franz!
This is terrible!

No, don't. He's been
hit in the stomach.

He can't have anything to drink.

Get a stretcher.

Where'd they get you, Kemmerick?

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 them!

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!

We need butter, too.

Yes. And dessert. And a
feather bed to sleep on.

- Rats!
- Rats!

Rats. Rats.

Get out of the way!

That's enough.

That's enough, boys.

What's that?

Come on!

Come on! Grab your r*fles!

Come on!

Come along.

Come on, everybody.

Here they come.

Get your grenades here.

In this space.

Hurry up. This is an att*ck.
Come on, hurry up.

Come on!

Aim. Fire.

Here you go, troops.

Let's go! Let's go! Let's move!

We can't hold this position, men.
Back to your own lines!

We've got
a lift from cavalry.

Now, then.

- 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-looking
son of a frog's leg.

What do you think I want?

We're hungry.

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.

Yeah.

I wish I could wake 'em up.
There's 80 of us left.

The rest is in dressing
stations or pushing 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.

Hey, 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.

Listen.

You drew rations for the
2nd Company, didn't you?

Yeah.

All right.
We're the 2nd Company.

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.

Come on!

No!

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 you up
and eat you 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, so help us.

Come on! Give us our food.

Attention!

At ease.

What's going 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!
Fill it up!

Anybody else?

All I want is to get going.

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.

It's too far.

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.

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?

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.

You just try it.

Yeah. You want to get sh*t?

The Kaiser and me...

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.
- Hmm.

I think it's more
a kind of fever.

Nobody wants it in particular and
then, all at once, here 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 coming 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 center
dressed in their underpants

and let them
fight it out with clubs.

The best country wins.

Well, now that Kat's settled
everything, let's go see Kemmerick.

Might cheer him up.

Something interesting
might happen on the way.

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.

Whoa.

Oh, there he is.

- Hello, Kemmerick.
- How are you?

How's it going?

How are things going?

Are they looking
after you all right?

How are they treating you?
Franz?

I'm all right.

They're robbers here.

Robbers.

They stole my watch.

I always told you nobody should
carry as good a watch as that.

And they took it
while I was under ether.

Franz. Franz.
You'll get it back.

Do you feel all right?

Just look at my hand, though.

That's because
you lost so much blood.

Just eat decently and
you'll get well again.

Oh, no.

Franz, 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...

Oh, I know what you mean!

I know! I know now!

They've cut my leg off.

Why didn't they tell me?

- Franz! Franz!
- ...they tell me.

Now I can't walk anymore!

Franz, 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 them under the bed.

That's a marvelous
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 them 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, Franz.
- Bye.

Bye.

Goodbye, Franz.

You think he'll last
till after mess?

You don't think...

Done for.

Boys, you go along.
I'll see you later.

- Goodbye. All right, Paul.
- Goodbye, 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 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 fellow.

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 field

to the two trees on the horizon.

The loveliest time of the year,
now, when the corn ripens.

And 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.

Oh, God,

this is Franz Kemmerick,
only 19 years old.

He doesn't want to die.

Please, don't let him die.

Paul.

- Paul.
- Yes, Franz.

Take my boots home for Mueller.

Oh, no, Franz, no.

And if...

Paul, you can 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.

One operation after another
since 5:00 this morning.

Sixteen dead today,
yours is the 17th.

There'll probably
be 20 by tomorrow.

You're looking good,
very good today.

What's your hurry?

Hey! I'll bet he
stole those boots!

Why didn't you stop him?

I got it, Kat.

Huh?

Listen, "The sum of
an arithmetic series

"is S = A + L x N over 2."
Interesting, isn't it?

What do you want to
learn that stuff for?

One day you'll stop a b*llet
and it'll all be wasted.

I get a lot of fun out of it.

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.
And I began to run hard.

And I passed soldiers and I
heard voices calling, but...

And I ran and I ran.

And 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.

It's a good
invention, just the same.

If you cr*ck
each separate louse,

think of all the energy
you use up. Watch.

b*rned to death.

How was patrol? Bad?

Must've been terrible if they had
time to gather in the harvest.

We passed a cherry tree and when
he saw it, he sort of went crazy.

I could hardly drag him away.

It was beautiful.

I have a big orchard
with cherry trees at home.

And 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, it comes to that.

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
would 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 ought to give you a kick in the
backside for starting 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
as easily as a sock.

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 you. 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.

Hurry up!
Get in there! Hurry up!

Himmelstoss!

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.

And since when have we
become so familiar?

Stand up there and click your
heels together! All of you!

Take a running jump at yourself!

Who's your friend?

Would somebody get General Ludendorff
a nice, comfortable chair?

I command you as
your superior officer!

Do you want to be
court-martialed for this?

I do!

There's going to be
a big att*ck tonight

and I'd just love
to get out of it.

Will you obey my orders?

Kiss my foot.

It isn't customary
to ask for salutes here.

But I'll tell you what we'll do.

We're going to att*ck 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...

Here it is.

Right on time.
Better get ready, boys.

I'm wounded. I'm wounded!

It's just a scratch, you yellow rat!
Up! Get on with the others! Up!

No! No! No!

You yellow rat!

You stinking yellow rat!
Let the others do it, eh?

Get up! Get up!

Forward, forward! Get out here!

The command was forward.

Command was forward!

Forward!

Forward! Forward!

Forward!

Forward!

Counterattack.

I want to help you.

I want to help you.

Stop that! Stop that!

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. Oh, no. You won't die.

No, 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.

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.

You see when you jumped in
here you were my enemy,

and I was afraid of you.

But you're just 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.

Only, you're better off than I am.
You're through.

They can't do
anymore to you now.

Oh, God, why did
they do this to us?

We only wanted
to live, you and I.

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.

And I'll help her
and your parents, too.

Only, forgive me. Forgive me!

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.

No, no. He's dead, Kat.
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.
Look there, for instance.

That got him. You should've
seen how he leaped in the air.

That fellow headed the sh**t with
us for today with three hits.

If he keeps it up,
he'll have a decoration

for his buttonhole this evening.

Now, don't you lose anymore
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.

March!

Forward, march!

Quickly! Forward!

Company, halt!

Dismissed!

Noncommissioned officers,
enlisted men, dismissed!

Hooray! Come on,
let's get out of here!

Give me your best sausage.

Two.

Give me a beer.

One, two, three, hoorah!

Hey, come on. A beer.

Hey, get out of here!

Come on. Give me a beer.

A beer. One...

Prosit!

Well, 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, you know, 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.

I might even go so far
as to get deloused.

Wait a minute! 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
them bigger around.

This conversation was on a
high moral plane up to now.

Now we do need a bath.

- A bath?
- For what?

You wouldn't understand.

This water's freezing. This
romantic business has gone too far.

But think of her beautiful eyes!

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!

Mademoiselle,
you want to swim?

Mademoiselle, you could be me!

Oh, baby!

Kiss me!

No, girls! Don't go away!

Oh, mama!

Please don't go!

Don't go away!

Mademoiselle, we want you.

Food! Food! Whoo!

Halt!

You know you're
forbidden to cross.

You fellows stay on this side or you'll
get yourselves in a lot of trouble.

What are they jabbering 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. All's
fair in love and w*r.

Huh? What do you mean?
What are you gonna do?

You'll find out.

She means the door.

Not only modest,
but dashing!

A perfect fit.

It might've been made for me.

An officer's coat. We're
calling, distinguished company.

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 trying to
figure out is why.

Why? Why?

Oh!

It's just that the boys

told me to amuse you
for a little while.

Oh, nice boys.

Yeah!

Yeah, they said you'd understand.

I've been betrayed!

Yeah, you certainly have.

Take that for a minute!

I'll give you more!

It's too loud.

Darling.

What's your name?

Name. How do you say name?

Georgette? Camille?

Suzanne.

Paul.

Suzanne, I wish I could
tell you something.

I wish you could understand.

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.

If you could only know
how different this is

from the women
that we soldiers meet.

No, no, no. Not the w*r.

You. That's what
I'm talking about.

It seems as though all w*r,
terror and grossness

had fallen away from me,
like a miracle.

Like something I never believed.

Call Paul.

We're going, Paul.

Have a look. Nice, new coffins.

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.

My side!

My side.

Catholic hospital, Albert.

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.

I'm Hammacher.

Yes, that's my name.

I got a cr*ck in the head and they
gave me a certificate stating

that Joseph Hammacher
is periodically

not responsible for his actions.

And ever since then, Hammacher
has been having a grand time.

I hope you boys are
not too badly wounded.

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!

It's so convenient.
It saves a lot of trouble.

But suppose he gets well?

I've seen a lot of them
go in that dying room,

but nobody ever comes back.

Sister. Sister. Sister.

Sister.

Is that you
ringing, Paul?

Yes.

Is something wrong?

I think I have a hemorrhage.

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?

He's been ringing.

Nobody can walk, Sister.

Sister, is it bad?

No. No, we'll be all right.

We've got it in time.

What's the matter?
What are you doing?

We must rearrange your bandages.

Where are you taking me?

To the bandaging ward.

No, no! I'm not going!
I'm staying here!

Paul! Paul!

Now, now!

I'm not going to the dying room!

But we're going to
the bandaging ward.

Then 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'm not going to die!
I'll come back!

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...

Hammacher.
Did they cut my leg off?

Of course not! How many
did you have? Two?

You still got 'em! One, two!

Don't play the fool, Hammacher.
Tell me truthfully.

Of course not.
And you look fine.

Look. See?

- 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!

Paul! Paul!

That's not where I'm going.
I live over there.

Paul, I'm so happy.

Hammacher, I've come
back from the dead!

It's most irregular.
Never happened before.

Albert, we must get well quickly
so we can go home soon.

Albert, everything
will be all right now.

Yes, Paul. Everything
will be all right now.

Paul! Paul! Paul!

Paul.

What's the matter, Paul?

Nothing. Nothing.

Paul.

Give me your handkerchief.

Mother?

Here I am, Paul.
Here I am.

Mother's ill.

Are you wounded?

No, Mother. I got leave.

Here I lie and cry
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.

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.

Hadn't I better go and
tell Father Paul's home?

Paul could watch
the things on the stove.

No, no, child, 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, Paul. 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?

Yes, I did.

We're behind the lines,

but we know how to
honor 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.

And 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.

The best for our soldiers.

But you must give the
Frenchies a good licking!

And if you boys
want to come home,

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.

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 honor.

I said that every man in the w*r
ought to have the Iron Cross.

First, the enemy lines must be
broken through in Flanders.

On to Paris!

- Push on to Paris!
- Right.

No, not in Flanders.
Now I'll tell you

just where the break
should come.

Here.

The enemy has
too many reserves there.

I insist upon Flanders!

I know, but, my dear man,
why should they do that

when they're halfway through St.
Quentin already?

Why go the other way?

Because Flanders
is a flat country.

There are no mountains,
no obstructions.

But there's many rivers there.

From the
farms they have gone,

from the schools,
from the factories.

They have gone bravely,
nobly, ever forward,

realizing that 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, Bäumer.
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.

Paul, lad,
you must speak to them.

You must tell them what it means
to serve your fatherland.

No, 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.

Can't you remember some deed of
heroism, some touch of nobility?

Tell about it.

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.

No. No, Paul.

I've been there!
I know what it's like.

That's not what
one dwells on, Paul.

I've 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?

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.

Coward!

And it's easier to say it
than to watch it happen.

- Coward!
- Get out!

No! Boys, boys!

I'm sorry, Bäumer,
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.

And 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.

And every day a year,
and every night a century.

And 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!

I'm 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.
They're all wool.

That's sweet of you.

Good night, my son.

Good night, 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.

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.

Not me! I'll go hungry first.
This 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 you 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 trying to invent
something to k*ll me right now.

Where's Westhus?

Messenger dog was wounded.
He went out to get it.

Is it true about
the armistice, Paul?

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's 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...

Not Kat!

If he were out,
the w*r would be over.

You remember
what he always says,

they're saving him for the last.

Where is he?

He's out looking for food,

trying to collect 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.

Let's sit down a minute.

Tell me, Paul,
how was it at home?

Have a good leave?

In spots.

What's the matter?

Oh, I'm no good for
back there anymore, 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.

It's not home
back there anymore.

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
airplanes 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.

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 you, Kat?

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.

Now this one.

Easy, now.

Hey!

Easy!

Come on. I'll take you in.
Give me your hand.

Easy.

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
and I'll give you mine.

You can't get both
of us in one day!

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.

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 paybook?

You're not related, are you?

No, we're not related.

Your deal. Did you get
his name and number?

Yeah, Corporal
Stanislas Katczinsky, 306.

I don't get it.