The scene shifts to the aid station, where Paul, Kropp, and Müller visit their buddy, Franz Kemmerich. Insensible to the amputation of his injured leg, Kemmerich puts on a cheerful face, yet fails to hide a serious physical decline. This visit is the first of many they will make to hospitals or dressing stations where Paul smells carbolic, pus, and sweat. Paul realizes immediately that Kemmerich will die, because he is used to seeing death now in a man's face and eyes. Paul bribes the attendant to give Kemmerich more morphine while Müller callously tries to persuade their friend to let him have his English boots of soft, yellow leather. The boys know the orderlies will steal the boots when Kemmerich dies. Kemmerich doesn't want to give up the boots, so they remain with him for now. But the school friends leave, foreseeing this first death among their group.
Back at the camp, Paul realizes he must write a letter to Kemmerich's mother at home. Meanwhile, Kropp is angry because Kantorek has called them "Iron Youth" in his letter. Reflecting on this phrase, Paul thinks, "Youth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk." This transition has already happened prior to Chapter 1; the ex-schoolboy can already see and accept death on the face of his friend.
