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At the inception of the film, viewers witness the somber reality of war as deceased soldiers are prepared for burial. Their uniforms are removed and repurposed for new recruits, a haunting symbol of the cycle of loss and replacement that defines warfare. Introduced alongside Paul Baumer are his school friends—Albert Kropp, Franz Müller, and Ludwig Bethmann—who decide to enlist, spurred on by a mix of patriotic fervor and a desire to be viewed as "cool" among their peers. Despite his mother's protests, Paul forges her signature to join the Imperial German Army.
The Illusion of Glory