The novel All Quiet on the Western Front portrays all the negatives of war. It shows how a war goes from an adventure to a reality. The German soldiers in the novel were school kids that had no idea what war was really like. They looked at it as an adventure and an opportunity to be considered heroes. At least that is what Kantorek drilled into their heads. He did not display the horrors of the war just how great it was to die for your country. Kantorek persuaded Paul along with many of his schoolmates to volunteer and join the war.
In the first chapter you really understand how war can change a man. Half of Paul's company was killed in a battle with the French. The men got back and all they could think about was food. The cook had prepared for one hundred men but there were only seventy left. He said he was not going to distribute the food until everyone was there. He realized that not all of the men returned. When they found out that they could have double the portions they all were happy and stuffed their faces while half their company lay dead. This is when you realize how bad war really is. They don't even look back on their fallen comrades; just that there is finally enough food to eat well. .
Another part of the story that portrays the brutality of war is when Paul's friend is in the hospital with his leg half amputated. They all gather around him and at first they are all happy to see him, but then they see his shiny boots. They quickly start arguing over them, forgetting their friend is there. Maller was trying to reason, saying he had no use for those boots. War makes you do whatever it takes to make you more comfortable going out to battle. This is an anti-war scene because their visit to the hospital goes from being about their friend; then it turns into who is getting the boots. They could not take their eyes of the boots. That is anti-war when you forget about your friend and care more about his boots.