Final answer:
Paul and Kropp bribe the sergeant-major with cigarettes (b) to be in the same carriage to the hospital, as cigarettes were highly valued among soldiers during the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the question concerning what Paul and Kropp bribe the sergeant-major with to be in the same carriage to the hospital, the correct answer is b) Cigarettes. The importance of tobacco and cigarettes to soldiers during the war was immense; it was considered a critical comfort and was actively supplied to the frontlines. This is evidenced by historical accounts indicating that authorities made efforts to ensure soldiers had access to tobacco, and any tobacco sent to wounded soldiers in hospitals was subject to duty, underscoring its value even in recovery situations. So, in the literary context, using cigarettes as a bribe conveys a realistic and valuable commodity that would convincingly sway the sergeant-major to grant their request.