All Quiet on the Western Front shows a lot of character. Boys turning into men by joining the German army and fighting for what they stand for. They go in having no clue of how bad the war can change ones perspective for one another and how bad they need to stick together to survive. Before they decided to join up they were boys figuring out what path they should take so they joined up because they felt this was the right thing to do. On and off the front there will be all sorts of changes. Friendships, emotional and physical feelings will occur, and lives will be changed. The boys who are soon to be men all know that in order to survive they need to come together and over come the changes that will take place on and off the front. There will be change.
Before the four, Kropp, Muller, Leer, and Paul, decided to volunteer for the war they were just friends trying to make a living. They were nineteen years old and made the decision that going to fight is what they thought was best for them. They had also had some close friends in the army, Tjaden, Haie, Detering, and Kat. During boot camp they all came together as a whole. Bonding, making friendships, and having a good old time. Now its time for them to go off to war and see how they will deal with sticking together and overcoming change. Off the front they have really nothing to do. For Example, "we turn into wags and loafers when we are resting. We can do nothing else; .
it is a sheer necessity. We want to live at any price; so we cannot burden our selves with feelings. Which, though they might be ornamental enough in peacetime, would be out of place here." Will one be loyal? Would they show respect for one another? Should they crumble and run away when they are in need of help or assistance? Will one show the most important thing for one another, comradeship? All will change when on the front trying to survive.
In addition, on the front you see a lot of loyalty, respect, no one abandons their fellow comrades and a bunch of changes are about to take place.