Here are some of the lessons readers learn about the reality of war through the characters in "All Quite on the Western Front":
Paul Baumer: War is brutal, dehumanizing, and changes a person fundamentally. Youthful ideas of glory and patriotism are quickly destroyed by the harsh reality of trench warfare.
Stanislaus Katczinsky: Even experienced soldiers suffer and are deeply affected by the horrors of war.
Albert Kropp: Ordinary young men are thrust into extraordinary circumstances of violence and death in war.
Muller: War takes a mental and emotional toll that is not easily overcome.
Tjaden: Common soldiers find ways to cope with war through dark humor and comradery.
Kantorek: Prewar ideals and propaganda do not prepare men for the grim reality they face.
Corporal Himmelstoss: Those who promoted the war are often hypocrites and do not share the risks and sacrifices.
The characters show that war leaves no one untouched - it impacts young and old, experienced soldiers and raw recruits. Through their differing perspectives and fates, readers see multiple dimensions of how the Great War disrupted and permanently altered lives. Overall, the novel argues that the romanticism and glory often associated with war are contradicted by the horrific lived experience of those who fight.
Hope this helps summarize some of the key lessons conveyed through the characters! Let me know if you have any other questions.