<P> By now, the war is nearing its end and the German Army is retreating . In despair, Paul watches as his friends fall one by one . It is the death of Kat that eventually makes Paul careless about living . In the final chapter, he comments that peace is coming soon, but he does not see the future as bright and shining with hope . Paul feels that he has no aims or goals left in life and that their generation will be different and misunderstood . </P> <P> In October 1918, Paul is finally killed on a remarkably peaceful day . The situation report from the frontline states a simple phrase: "All quiet on the Western Front ." Paul's corpse displays a calm expression on its face, "as though almost glad the end had come ." </P> <P> One of the major themes of the novel is the difficulty of soldiers to revert to civilian life after having experienced extreme combat situations . Remarque comments in the preface that "(This book) will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war ." This internal destruction can be found as early as the first chapter as Paul comments that, although all the boys are young, their youth has left them . In addition, the massive loss of life and negligible gains from the fighting are constantly emphasized . Soldiers' lives are thrown away by their commanding officers who are stationed comfortably away from the front, ignorant of the daily terrors of the front line . </P> <P> Kropp was in Paul's class at school and is described as the clearest thinker of the group as well as the smallest . Kropp is wounded towards the end of the novel and undergoes a leg amputation . Both he and Bäumer end up spending time in a Catholic hospital together, Bäumer suffering from shrapnel wounds to the leg and arm . Though Kropp initially plans to commit suicide if he requires an amputation, the book suggests he postponed suicide because of the strength of military camaraderie . Kropp and Bäumer part ways when Bäumer is recalled to his regiment after recovering . Paul comments that saying farewell was "very hard, but it is something a soldier learns to deal with ." </P>

What is the purpose of all quiet on the western front
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