is the story of World War I as seen by a teen aged German tasked with manning the front. It is a powerful story, written by a guy who served on the front lines. The Nazis banned and burned his books.These poor children were massacred, while their political leaders did not have to put their lives on the line. Incentives were not aligned!
The book served as a good reminder for me as to how lucky I am to have grown up in a (relatively) peaceful time in a peaceful country. It was a hit in Germany, selling over one million copies following its publication in 1928. But the Nazis did not view it positively. It made war look gruesome, rather than glorious. It made Germans fighters look like regular humans, rather than the Aryan studs they were supposed to be. And it sent a message that peace is good, which is not an idea you want to permeate when you're looking to "consolidate" Europe.
I enjoyed the book so much I'm planning to watch the movie.
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