Answer:
He's The officer in charge of Paul Baumer's (the novel's protagonist's) regiment during their training.
Step-by-step explanation:
Himmelstoss is extremely cruel to his recruits, forcing them to obey ridiculous and dangerous orders simply because he enjoys bullying them. Himmelstoss forces his men to stand outside with no gloves on during a hard frost, risking frostbite that could lead to the amputation of a finger or the loss of a hand.