Final answer:
Paul Bäumer learns from Mittelstaedt that their former schoolmaster, Kantorek, has been conscripted and is now under Mittelstaedt's command, illustrating the war's ability to reverse societal roles and hierarchies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, Paul Bäumer learns from his fellow classmate, Mittelstaedt, about their former schoolmaster, Kantorek. Mittelstaedt informs Paul that Kantorek has been conscripted as a soldier and is now under Mittelstaedt’s command. This is a significant moment as it represents a reversal of roles; the former authority figure, who once exerted influence over his students, urging them to enlist in the war, is now subordinate to one of those students. The novel portrays this as an ironic twist of fate, emphasizing the indiscriminate nature of war and its ability to upend societal hierarchies. Through Mittelstaedt's experience, Paul learns about the humbling and equalizing impact that war has on individuals, regardless of their former status or position.