How All Quiet on the Western Front Changed Opinions On War

World War I was something that defined a generation, and a world. Nothing had been seen like it before. It was known as the ‘War to End All Wars’. (which sadly, only lasted until World War II)

Many young men returned suffering from PTSD, or ‘shell shock’ as it was known back then. These young men’s suffering was largely ignored, especially by those in power who had never been in a war themselves.

At this point in history, the common narrative was that war was all about ‘Honor, glory, and duty.’ People who spoke out against war were unpatriotic. Communists in the US. Traitors in the making in other countries.

Even so, some writers were working to change this ‘war is great narrative.’ Hemmingway in the US. Erich Maria Remarque in Germany. Erich’s book, All Quiet On The Western Front, told the story of a young foot soldier who first lost his freedom when joined, then his friends, then his peace of mind, then finally his life.

While a depressing story, it showed the horrors of war with no sugar coating or propaganda.

When the Nazi party came to power, it was the very first book they banned, since they understood it’s real power.

This of course, caused its sales to skyrocket in other parts of the world, after all, who can resist a banned book? It brought attention to the real horrors of war and PTSD. It also let ‘shell shocked’ soldiers know that there was nothing abnormal in how they felt after what they’d been through.

And in doing so, it forever changed how future generations thought about war.

How will your book change the world?