AQWF Chapter 1 Review - Tabitha, Zach, Fayez

Chapter 1 Summary and Character Review

Top Layer Summary:

- Introduction to the main characters

-Circumstances of being in the war:

           ·         Modesty is lost

           ·         Bargaining is a big tool (Cigarettes, Rum, Bread, Clothes, etc.)

           ·         Loyalty and Brotherhood

           ·         Becoming hardened

-Disappointment in the older generation:

           ·         For not teaching them what would come of them for joining the war

           ·         For allowing the military to mature them the hard way

           ·         For falsely glorifying the war

Specifics:

The first chapter is used as an introduction to the different characters: the way they act and they way they are treated during the war. 

We see the waste of the resources they have and the inadequate form of communication they had during the war. 

The first thing that we notice is the terrible amount of communication that goes on between the different areas in the war.

• The cook has no idea of the amount of men that are coming back from the front. He believes he is preparing rations for 150 men but only 80 have survived. The 80 left are then issued all the rations that were prepared for those men. 

An example of misusing what little resources they did have, was the environment at the hospital that Kemmerich is kept in. 

• There are wounded left everywhere and when Kemmerich eventually dies they waste no time moving him and replacing someone else in his bed. 

The war was tough on everyone and they had to deal with the inadequate amount of supplies, but because of no communication they are wasting a whole lot of rations (that they don't necessarily have) on a smaller group of soldiers.

Kantorek, the schoolmaster, encouraged them all to join and if you didn't you'd be ostracized.

Franz Kemmerich is the first to get wounded in battle.  Him and Behm both pass away.

Paul and his friends are forced to disconnect from emotions, like grief, sympathy, and fear. They now have to be in survival mode.

Characters:

Paul Bäumer

• Narrator
• Sensitive, but the brutal experiences of warfare teaches him to detach himself from his feelings

Leer

• Paul's classmate
• Close friend during the war
• Thinks of women a lot

Müller

• Paul's classmate
• Hardheaded
• Dynamic
• A bit of a dreamer but looks out for No. 1

Kropp

• Paul's classmate
• A close friend of Paul's 
• His interest in analyzing the causes of the war lead to many of the most critical anti war
• He notices the ranking differences and the treatments that come with it. (Hospital with Kemmerich)

Tjaden

• Locksmith
• Skinny, young man with a voracious appetite

Katczinsky

• Kat is the unofficial leader
• 40 years old
• Resourceful, inventive, and always finds food, clothing, and blankets

Haie

• Peat-digger was a body as large and powerful
• Wants to remain in the war

Detering

• Homesick
• Kind hearted
• Nature lover

Stanislaus Katczinsky

         My name is Stanislaus Katczinsky, known as Kat. I am 40 years old. I am the older of the Second Company. I am the leader of the group. I think I am very resourceful and able to find food and clothes during the times when my friends need it the most. I always manage to keep the company in supplies by trade. I am good understanding of many other trades. During the War, Paul and I become best friends.

Group 4 - Reval (Tallinn)

Felicia Dieterman,
Maria Mueller,
Ali Alshaikhahmad,
Kyle Kielty
Mohammed Alsuwailem
Fayez Alanazi
Tatiana Satchivi


HISTORIC MARKERS THAT DESCRIBE THE HANSA

965 --> Increase of mercantile activity due to the market rights conferred in Bremen.

12th Century --> An alliance formed between Hamburg and Lubeck in Northern Germany marked the beginning of the Hanseatic League. Lubeck was a predominant town in the trades.

The League gained independence from the local feudal lords and only owed allegiance to the emperor.

Start of 16th Century --> The league started to fall apart and was in a weak position due to the rise of English and Dutch merchants. The league lost the monopoly of the trade routes. Another reason for its weaker position was due to the lost of common interests among the League. Finally, the influence of the German princes was growing, which made the cities from the Hansa lose their right to trade freely.

LIFE IN HANSEATIC CITIES

Cities that were members of the Hansa were called "Free cities" because they were not ruled by the local feudal lords. Lubeck was more independent compared to the other cities in the League.

If a city refused to join the Hansa it was blockaded or barricaded by the League. No trade was done with a city that had been barricaded until it joined.  The cities of the Hansa looked wealthier than the cities outside it.

TRADE ROUTES AND THE TRADE WORKED

One of the main trade routes that was used by the Hanseatic League was called the "Salt Road". Salt was a very sought resource by merchants to preserve their goods, which is why "Salt Road" was a common trade path, yet it was known to be dangerous. It was also the road between Hamburg and Lubeck.

The cargos in the port of Lubeck consisted of salt, herring, grain, timber, honey, amber, ships stores, and other bulk commodities. These were not cargos that made quick fortunes, but they were a steady trade, and the Hansa held a monopoly on a great deal of it, if not all. Ships were the main way to trade, which gave them access to Scandinavia.

SHIP, CITIES, AND SOCIAL MAKE-UP IN HANSEATIC CITIES

They used ships by selling them, this is the industry they excelled in, that is what boosted their economy. Ships were a huge factor for merchants that provided access to Scandinavia. Commercial ships also had to carry soldiers and their weapons. 

Cities: Most merchants came from North Germany cities, Baltic port cities and many others joined. Hanseatic League operated for 300 years with members from 300 cities. Hamburg was a popular trade route for salt, which was part of the “Salt Path”.

Social Make-up of Hanse: There were over 60 cities, each city had their own merchants and each made alliance and made their own common policies.

WHAT "TRUST" AND "TRUTH" MEANT AMONG HANSE TRADERS

Truth and Trust were important because the goal of the league was to keep the spirit alive and encourage a vibrant exchange between its members.

Hanseatic League

The Northern cities of Hamburg and Luebeck founded Hanseatic League through the twelfth century. During that era, people in both Hamburg and Luebeck considered trade as a dangerous business, which this enabled their merchants to travel together in order to protect themselves from enemies. Nevertheless, merchants from most cities in the region including North Germany cities, Baltic port cities and many others joined the league. Hanseatic League operated for more than 300 years with members from more than 300 cities. The primary role of the league was to protect themselves from rivals and rules by using powerful navy funded by members. The Hanseatic merchants played significant roles including exporting goods, food and commodities such as clothes, timber, far and luxury goods. In addition, the Hanseatic League ensured the removal of trade restrictions among its members. This was evident in 1159 when the merchants of Cologne requested the king of England Henry II to save them from London tolls and allow them have fair trades in England. 

Concurrently, Hanseatic League highly contributed towards the growth of many cities. The league boosted the economy, thus resulting to prosperity that the cities had never experienced. It led to the introduction of commercial markets, globalization and financial markets. As well, it resulted in many innovations like cashless payment, the postal system, bookkeeping and labor division. Interestingly, the league had many powers, which enabled it to enforce blockades against dissimilar kingdoms, and went ahead waging war to attain their economic interests. By the end of 14th century, Germans were in control of many things within the league including the revenues from fisheries, the fortresses sound and its ships could enter the Bergen port with their tops on. Consequently, research reveals that all cities that were members of Hanseatic League ended up wealthy with great stature. This is evident through magnificent towns and prestigious buildings that still exist to date.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~baronfum/hansa.html