Jünger continues to orient the reader to life in the trenches. In many ways, it’s a lonely, isolating, dull existence in which men must hang onto their humanity as best they can, with varying levels of success. To an extent, the soldier becomes acquainted with enemy counterparts much as he gets to know his own comrades, albeit in a limited way (just their voices, not their hopes and dreams). The trenches, and the pressing realities of war, prevent both sides from seeing each other’s humanity fully.