Agriculture

I chose Agriculture as a topic to expand on regarding Industry and Business in Germany.  During class presentations, most of what was talked about was industry, which made me curious if farmers were present in Germany today.  Germany, indeed, has farmable land; and more than I would have ever guessed.  Roughly one third of the land is fit for cultivation.  Agriculture was popular in Germany before industry expanded and become a major player in Germany's economy.  Today, agriculture in Germany is a small sector of the German economy.

Germany can be divided into four topographic regions; the northern part of Germany is lowland, in the center is uplands, and southern Germany is the Alpine foreland and the Alps.  In the north, where the terrain is relatively flat, sugar beets are mostly grown; near the river valleys you will find vineyards; and large cities are usually surrounded by fruit orchards and vegetable farms.  Since beer is well known in Germany, there must be grain crops.  Which there is!  And almost all of German beer is produced in Bavaria.  The top crops in Germany are Sugar Beets, Wheat, Barley, and Potatoes.  Even though Germany has tillable land, it is one of the largest importers of agricultural products.

Agriculture in the 20^th century has greatly declined since the 18^th century and the Industrial revolution.  Industry attracted farmers because of the potential to earn more money.

The European Union agriculture reform provides financial assistance for development of agricultural land and requires good agricultural practices.  Farmers using environmentally friendly practices are compensated, in recognition of their conscience farming methods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Germany  10/30/12

http://www.germanymapxl.com/agriculture-map.html   10/30/12
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Germany-AGRICULTURE.html  10/30/12

19 Century Business & Industry

Presented by: Jessica Hall, Scott Reid, Will Wacholz



All Quiet on the Western Front

• How important is comradeship to soldiers?
• Would a soldier today share the same thoughts as Paul and his friends that war leaves you with nothing?

• Paul reflects many times on nature.  Is this the Authors way of restoring normalcy in the face of inhumanity?

• The missing civilian years of a young adult!

• A Mother’s pain when a son is at war.

Chapter Five – All Quiet on the Western Front

 
The chapter begins with Paul and his friends killing louse by using their fingernails.  One of Paul’s friends, Tjaden, makes a contraption out of the top of a boot-polish lid and a candle to burn the louse.  Haie’s makes a joke saying he’s going to use the fat from the louse to polish his own boots.  This is the most funny to Haie, but not so much everyone else.  The arrival of Himmelstoss has dampened everyone’s mood. 

As everyone is spending hours talking and meditating, Albert shows up with a mess-tin of beans he’s scored for himself.  Muller asks Albert what he’d do if it were suddenly peace-time.  This brings Kat, Baumer and the rest into the topic.  Albert even awakes Haie to ask him what he’d do if it was peace time.  Haie eventually admits that he’d stay with the Prussians and serve out his time as a non-com.  During their conversation, Himmelstoss appears.  But they act as though they really don't notice him standing there.  Himmelstoss engages them and is expecting respect as a superior officer, but instead, he and Tjaden get into a discourteous dialogue that ends when Tjaden moons Himmelstoss.  Himmelstoss disappears in the direction of the Orderly Room and all bust out in laughter.  Tjaden then makes himself scarce for when they come looking for him. 

Muller brings the conversation back to Albert and asks again what he’d do if it were peace time.  The discussion turns to their classmates and their teacher Kantorek.  Some poking fun of their teacher is in order and brings on more laughter.  Schooling and what to do after the war is talked about.  They conclude that nothing will be the same after war and that the war has ruined them. 

Soon the sergeant-major and Himmelstoss appear looking for Tjaden.  Noticing he’s not there and no one telling where he is, it is ordered that Tjaden should return to the Orderly Room in 10 minutes.   Tjaden is made aware of the order and disappears.  The rest gather to play cards.  That evening they each are called to the Orderly Room.  Paul explains the bed-wetting incident involving Tjaden.  In the end, Himmelstoss gets a lecture and Tjaden gets three days open arrest. 

After an hour, Paul and Kat sneak to Tjaden and Kropp and play cards.  When the card game has ended, Kat and Paul go off to get themselves a goose for roasting.  For two cigarettes they get a ride to their destination and Paul agrees to get the goose.  The getting of the goose didn’t go as smoothly as planned.  After quite a ruckus and the meeting of a bull dog, a goose is thrown over the wall.  The goose is roasted at once in a small deserted lean-to; this takes a long time and they take turns while the other sleeps.  Paul feels very close to Kat and feels peace with his presence.  Finally, the goose is done and they eat.  The remainder of the goose is wrapped up and brought to Tjaden and Kropp.  The feathers from the goose are kept and will be used to make pillows.  Dawn is approaching and Kat and Paul return to their huts.

Stanislaus Katczinsky

Stanislaus Katczinsky, or Kat has he is called throughout the book, is an older soldier, forty years of age, and married with children.  One of the first things to learn about Kat is his ability to survive.  He is a great scavenger; and from the sounds of it, a great cook.  The soldiers seem to really enjoy his works, especially Tjaden, who is the biggest eater of them all.  Kat is also keen at sniffing out trouble.  Paul comments that Kat has a sixth sense.

Kat is one to think before he talks.  He doesn’t usually say much, but when he does, he seems to be the voice of reason, and one with his feet planted on the ground - not much of a dreamer. 

Paul, most of all, seems to love Kat.  I think Paul looks at Kat as someone that fulfills a father and mother figure.  He is a leader and can teach, but yet caring as a mother.  I remember a part in the book when Paul came back from leave and had volunteered with the rest of his comrades to sneak to the front line in the night.  Paul is struggling with thoughts of home and, for the first time on the front line, feels unsure of himself; unsure of his direction, and frozen in fear.  But when he hears the sound of Kat’s voice, the world is clear again.

At the end of the book, Paul tries to save Kat after he is hit with shrapnel in the shin.   Paul carry’s Kat to the dressing station.  Only to find out he is dead.  Paul doesn’t believe it at first, but soon learns that Kat caught a splinter in the head.  Kat was the last of Paul’s friends to leave him.  This is the saddest part in the book because with Kat gone, Paul feels nothing more

I felt like I related to Kat the most out of all the characters.  I liked that he could fend for himself and was willing to share his knowledge.  I also appreciated his ability to find and cook food.  The funniest was when Kat and Paul commandeered a goose.  Kat took care of Paul and his classmates and I’d like to think that if it wasn’t for Kat, the rest may not have lived as long as they did throughout the war.