A strong bias against war in general was shown in this novel. The experience of "lostness" from society as a result of war seemed to be a point presented often and possibly an experience of Remarque. Numerous times Paul found his unit to be separated from the rest of the world. He found no belonging to civilization but instead a brotherhood amongst his comrades in the military. The constant questioning of war and its values was presented very frequently and in fact may have included a few of Remarque's own questions of society and biases against the immorality and murder committed during war.

Ramarque's purpose in writing this book was to display the hidden costs of war. The physical aspects of death and wounds did not begin to portray the mental anguish that the soldiers experienced during and after the war. He hoped to show the results of war on an entire generation; a loss of innocence in life which those who were once soldiers could never replace. Remarque's message came across very clearly. There were constant tragedies which forced Paul or the other soldiers to question war and become detached from civilian life. After viewing the death of a close friend and a recruit whom he had comforted earlier, Paul went home finding that war had isolated him from his family and his childhood. With the return to his unit he again felt the presence of belonging. Soldiers had become his family. The mental anguish was again vividly displayed after Paul killed a French soldier; discovering that the soldier had a family, Paul slipped into a deep agony vowing to prevent such wars

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