1. Why does Tjaden eat fast? Tjaden eats rapidly because he does not know when he will be killed and does not know when the next time he can eat.
2. What happened to Detering? He was reminded of his homeland when he picked a cherry blossom. He tried to run away from the military, but the soldiers caught him and no one has heard from him since.
3. What is ironic about the factory owners in Germany? The factor owners in Germany have become rich because of the war. This is ironic because in general, war destroys people's lives. The soldiers are dying and are very poor while the factory owners have become rich.
4. What is the only thing the men have to look forward to? They look forward to the end of the war.
6. How does Paul react to Kat's death? Paul is in shock. He cannot, or rather does not want to believe that his best friend was killed. His last friend was killed and now he is alone.
7. Why is Paul no longer afraid? He is no longer afraid because he feels that he lost everything he cared about: all his friends. He already lost his life mentally, so he feels he has nothing else to lose.
8. What is the irony of the book's final sentence? All the violence and horrors he lived through, he was still able to die with a calm look on his face and looked as if he died in peace.