Paul Baumer: narrator, 19 when he enlists, loses youthful idealism in training camp
Stanislaus Katcinzky (kat): paul’s best friend, 40 years old, cobbler in civilian life, shrewd and resourceful (finds food)
Albert Kropp: Clearest thinker among Paul’s classmates
Tjaden: locksmith in civilan life, skinny, despite his voracious appetite
Llaie Westhus: peat digger in civilan life, prefers peacetime army to digging peat
Detering: simple, peace-loving farmer, loner
Muller: Paul’s classmate who still carries his textbook and dreams of exams
Leer: Paul’s classmate, has beard, obsessed with math and women
Kemmerich: grows up with Paul, dies after leg amputation, leaves his boots to Muller
Himmelstoss: postman in civilan life, sadistle as drillmaster, “Terror of Klosterburg”
Kantorek: Paul’s schoolmaster, stern “little” man, persuaders Paul and classmates to join the army, warfare is legitimate expression of Patriotism
Setting: German front- 1914-1918
Point of view: 1st Person P.O.V. (Paul’s eyes individual and immediate)
Themes: The Destructiveness of War