Task 2

Stanislaus Katczinsky

The book All Quiet on the Western Front has five main characters whom are Paul Bäumer, Albert Kropp, Haie Westhus, Fredrich Müller, and Stanislaus Katczinsky. Katczinsky is also referred to as Kat and was the leader of their group of comrades. He is clever, sneaky, stubborn, and is the oldest out of the five main characters at forty years old. His role throughout the book was an important one; he was the one that everyone counted on and looked up to. He is remarkable at being able to find food wherever he is at and always shares it with his comrades. Here is a quote that shows how Paul thinks of Kat after he finds some much needed food, “I’m sure that if he were planted down in the middle of the desert, in half an hour he would have gathered together a supper of roast meat, dates, and wine.” (All Quiet on the Western Front, Pg. 39) He also can sense when a bombardment/attack is going to happen which is very helpful to be ready for the attack.

Over the course of the book Kat and Paul became really close and are the last two left after the rest of the main characters have died. During a late summer day Kat and Paul were bringing food to the front line when Kat was hit in the shin. It is just the two of them and Kat’s shin was smashed so Paul had to carry him to safety. On the way they stopped twice to rest and take cover. Since Paul has to carry Kat neither of them can properly shelter themselves from the explosions. While they are resting, Kat and Paul talk about some of their memories together including when they stole a goose, and how Kat carried Paul out the first time he was wounded. After Paul gets Kat to safety an orderly tells him that he wasted his breath carrying Kat because he is already dead. Paul comes to the horrible realization that Kat was struck by a splinter in his head while he was being carried by Paul and died. Even though Kat didn’t think the war was a good war, he was good fighter and was always trying to help his comrades. Kat goes through a lot during the war but his personality and leadership never falters. 

 

Sources:

Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet On the Western Front. 1st Ballantine Books ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982. Print.