Corporal Himmelstoss is also an interesting figure in describing the relationship between authority and subordinates, and the author goes to greater length to create this character rather than the case of the schoolmaster, who has a brief appearance in the beginning of the book. As a noncommissioned training officer, Himmelstoss is the best example of an individual who grows from a subordinate position before the war (he had been a postman) to one where he can actually exercise authority. The power he receives makes him exercise it in a mean manner with Paul and the rest of the young soldiers. The authority does not translate in coordinating the subordinates and in creating the appropriate framework for them to evolve in, but simply in making them as miserable as possible.

This is probably also because authority separates people. As soon as battle starts, the corporal becomes much more humane. The reason for this is that he is practically one of the soldiers...

This is probably most clear in the encounters that Paul has with his family, first during his visit home and then during the visit that his father and sister pay him.
The feeling of alienation is clear in both of these. The relatives find little or nothing to talk about, most notably the mother's illness or other irrelevant topics. Paul does not necessarily encourage this situation, but he certainly understands it and makes no attempt to change it in any way. He understands that he is now part of a different reality,