Paul returns to his company and gives his potato-cakes and jam to Tjaden, Müller, Kat, and Kropp. The men go through rigorous inspections and receive new equipment to prepare the arrival of the Kaiser. When he arrives, they line up for his approval. He is a less intimidating figure than Paul had imagined. After, the men discuss the emperor and nationalism; Kropp wonders if both sides can possibly be "in the right," and Tjaden is curious as to how a war gets started and what its purpose is. They soon end their debate. The soldiers have to return their new equipment from the inspections, as well.

The company returns to the front. Trench mortars have blasted huge craters. Dead men hang from trees, and body parts are strewn everywhere. They report it to the next stretcher-bearers’ post.

Paul volunteers to go on a patrol to find out how strong the enemy is. The volunteers crawl under a wire and separate; Paul crawls into a shell-hole. Paul worries more than usual when he thinks a bomb has fallen nearby; images of his mother, the Russians, and other scenes whirl in his head as he sweats out of fear. He battles between the conflicting desires to move away and to stay in the hollow. He crawls halfway out and hears German voices behind him. He is reassured and feels less lonely; they are his "comrades" and are "nearer than lovers."

Paul crawls back, but he gets lost. A bombardment begins and he crawls into a water-filled hole. He pretends to be dead under the muddy water, and holds his knife in case someone comes. The Germans fire back and soon repel the enemy. As Paul hears footsteps around his hole, a body falls in. Paul strikes at the body, and the man convulses and becomes limp. When he gurgles, Paul viciously wants to quiet him by stabbing him and stuffing his mouth with earth, but he soon regains control. Paul wants to leave, but the machine-gunfire makes that impossible. He waits with the gurgling body.

By morning, Paul looks at the man in the hole with him. Paul tries to convince himself the man is dead, but the body moves slightly and opens its eyes at Paul in fear. Paul strokes the man’s forehead and scoops up some muddy water for him to drink. Paul cuts the man’s shirt with his knife and bandages him. By noon the man is still dying, and Paul is starving. This is the first time Paul has killed a man in hand-to-hand combat, and he suffers along with the dying man. Finally, he dies in the afternoon. Paul props him up and wonders about the man’s wife. He thinks about fate; if Paul had crawled back to his trench correctly, the man would still be alive.

Paul speaks to the dead man, apologizing for and justifying his actions, asking for forgiveness. He promises to write his wife, and he finds his wallet in the man’s tunic. Inside are small photos of a woman and a little girl and letters in French. Paul knows he will not send them a letter, but he vows to live for the sake of the man and his family. He locates the man’s name (Gérard Duval), profession (compositor, or printer), and address, and writes them down.

As night draws near, Paul stops thinking about the dead man. He crawls toward his trench and is welcomed back by his friends. He tells the story, but omits the man he killed. The next morning, he tells them, and they reassure him that it was his only choice. They watch a sniper shoot enemies and celebrate his accuracy.