Stanislaus Katczinsky
Over the course of time, Paul becomes best friends with Stanislaus Katczinsky (Kat). Before the army, he was a shoemaker, with a family back home. Kat is a commander, a leader, a wise old man, and a friend to the recruits. He is the most experienced and the most positive influence on his comrades on the battlefield. As a leader, he can always find food and identify trouble, which the young men admire. He is generous, realistic, and a father-like figure. Generosity occurs, because Kat is always sharing his food, whether it is given out or he has killed and cooked it himself. He is always thinking of others before himself, always helping the younger men, like when there was gas in the trench and he warns Paul to put his mask on and to pass the news down the line. When Kat sees a wounded soldier, he asks if they should just shoot him and put him out of his misery, this shows realism. He also shows it when he is arguing with the cook about making too much food, saying they should be able to eat it since everyone else is dead or in the dressing station. Kat is father-like by always looking after the young men by providing food, by providing help, and for always being there. He is also a positive influence to the younger men, showing leadership. In the end, Kat died ironically by a shrapnel wound to the head after a bullet had hit his shin, in Paul’s arms as Paul hurries to get him to camp. It is though a great hero has died.
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