It’s weird to experience death. Maybe that’s not the right word but many times, you can’t help but feel something else should be happening. Your expectations do not fit.

Reading about it could make you wonder. In war, death is daily and constant but Kemmerich’s death is different. It is said explicitly too. One thing I noticed is the dialogue and then the sudden stop. I remember his last words clearly.

“If you find my watch send it home —”

And then he stops.

Immediately after, Paul thinks of Kemmerich’s mother. But Kemmerich has no more energy for even thoughts. Where it is expected for him to think of his mother or even his brothers and sisters, like others who weep and cry for theirs, he thought only of the present. The watch that was on his hand. Perhaps his friends might find it, “If”.

Why do we expect those dying to care about the past? Regrets, loved ones, home. Maybe it’s because it’s what we would think of when on our deathbed. But these are soldiers. World War 1 took these boys who had no past yet and continued to take away their thoughts of the future. They can only have thoughts on the present and to survive. They don’t have the choice to only “focus” on the present, to set aside regrets, or try not to think of the future when they know they will die.

This is why they won’t worry about the past. They are forced to fight and are willing to face death to serve their country and brothers. Even when the past and future holds nothing for them.