During World War I, 19-year-old Paul Boymer was inspired by "patriotism" and volunteered to join the army with his classmates. However, the cruelty of war and military life was completely beyond imagination. In boot camp, they are forced to abandon their former faith in knowledge and freedom and undergo a radical transformation. After a short training, the recruits were sent to the front line to fight, and what they saw and heard was cruel: the trenches were full of rats and lice; severe infectious diseases threatened the life of every soldier; comrades were killed one by one, or were injured and sent to field hospitals; the field hospitals were poorly equipped and lacked medicines, and the mortality rate of the injured was extremely high.
When Paul returned home on vacation, he found that Germany was still immersed in heroic illusions about war. Ordinary people could not imagine the disasters suffered by soldiers on the front line. He was completely out of touch with his previous life, and no one could understand his feelings. Paul returns to the front line. At this time, the war is becoming more and more fierce, and the future is confused...
