(Chapter 1) The author, Erich Maria Remarque, describes the difference of generations at wartime. 

Paul delivers his final thoughts on the war, focusing on the theme of inter-generational conflict Remarque has threaded throughout the novel: his generation's alienation and aimlessness and its feelings of betrayal at the hands of the older generation. Paul feels cheated by the older generations who have lived their lives yet throw young lives away on pointless conflict Paul has more in common with his young enemy on the field than he has with the Kaiser. The older generations send virgins with rifles to fight a war these boys have nothing to do with.