In chapter 9
Paul returns to the front lines and finds Kat, Muller, Tjaden, and Kropp still alive. They are all told that the Kaiser is coming to visit the army and they all get excited. They get new uniforms, and everything is cleaned from top to bottom. After the Kaiser visits, Paul and the others decide that they are not impressed. They begin to think that war is only good for leaders who want to be in history books, and that war is unnecessary. Paul then volunteers to go to "No mans land" to gain intel on the enemy's strengths. On his way back from no mans land, he is bombarded and forced to hide out in a shell hole. While he's waiting, a French soldier jumps into the shell hole and Paul is forced to stab him. The Frenchman does not die right away, so Paul bandages him up and gives him some water until he passes. After the French soldier dies, Paul has to wait in the shell hole with the dead soldier until dark so he can make it back without being spotted. He explains to the deceased soldier that if he could do it over he would not stab him again and he would let him live. Darkness finally comes and Paul makes it back to his friends and he explains to them what happened. They take his attention from the event and explain to him that it was kill or be killed.