Germany. Twenties. Three close friends Gottfried Lenz, Robert Lokamp and Otto Koester are in their thirties. They have known each other since school, they went through the entire First World War together. Otto Kester is the owner of a car repair shop, Robert and Gottfried also work for him. They don't get much money, but they have enough to live on.

After the end of the war, the country is in economic decline: lack of jobs, poverty ordinary people, unemployment and the negative mood of society are increasing. Nobody can predict the future. Three friends are forced to work hard and hard in order to provide for themselves. good life. They prefer to spend their leisure time having fun with their peers.

Somehow, at an auction, comrades acquire a rather old car, they repair it themselves and install powerful engine. Friends give the car a name - "Karl". Now their entertainment is fast driving on the highway. So they meet Patricia Holman, whose short name is Pat.

Patricia is pretty and charming, she evokes sympathy from all three friends. But Robert shows his feelings more persistently and brighter, so he begins to have a relationship with a girl. At first they were not a couple, but just friends. But soon the young people began to fall in love with each other, day by day their feelings intensified. So Pat becomes part of their company. Friends believe that love is the most important thing in life, so they treat Pat and Robert's relationship with care and special care.

Somehow, Otto decides to participate in car races on the Karl. Comrades are preparing their car for the competition. Nobody believes in their victory, they laugh. On the day of the race, all friends gather, including Patricia. "Karl" wins over the rest of the opponents.

Robert manages to profitably sell the car. He accepts the check and runs to the auto repair shop, where he tells the others about the good deal. Everyone is delighted, because it is not often that they manage to sell a car so safely. After that, Robert and Pat go on vacation.

Robert learns that the girl is completely alone, without parents and relatives. Because she has tuberculosis, Pat cannot work. On vacation, she has an attack of illness. The called doctor explains to Robert that it is necessary to continue her treatment.

The situation in the country is deteriorating. Protests, marches, lawlessness begin. At one of these performances, Lenz is killed. He is shot in front of his friends. Otto clearly saw the criminal. After the funeral, they sell the auto repair shop and start looking for the killer. The death of Lenz is carefully hidden from Pat. Soon, a telegram arrives from the girl asking her to come to her. Once in the sanatorium where Pat was treated, friends learn that she has very little time left. Robert is always with a weakened girl. After some time, she dies.

Thundered First World War, which left an indelible imprint on the destinies and souls of the inhabitants of Germany. The country is suffering from a severe economic crisis.
The friendship of Robert Lokamp, ​​Gottfried Lenz and Otto Kester began in school years. Then they fought together, and at the time of the novel they worked in a car repair shop. Robert celebrates his thirtieth birthday - he is sad, he is disturbed by memories. He is tormented by the memory of graduating from school, of being drafted into the army at the age of eighteen in 1916 year, about the wounding of Kester, about the horrific death of fellow soldiers from poisonous gases and severe wounds. 1919 the year was no less difficult - during the putsch, Lenz and Kester were arrested, there was nothing to eat, and prices rose sharply. Kester tried to make money as best he could. He first studied at the university, then tried himself as a pilot and race car driver, but, in the end, he acquired a car repair shop. Lenz and Lokamp joined Kester. Friends earned a little, but enough to live on, and only memories still haunted. To fight the past, there was only one effective weapon - vodka.
Kester and Lenz solemnly welcome the birthday boy with a gift - no one knows where and how they got six bottles of old rum. But comrades will celebrate later, after work. At the auction, friends bought an old, dilapidated car, which they call "Karl". They've been working late, put a powerful race car engine in a Cadillac, and now they're having fun, noisily overtaking cars that look much better than the Carl. Lokamp, ​​Lenz and Kester went to the suburbs to celebrate a birthday. There they meet a man and a woman whose car they had previously overtaken. Together they arrange a stormy feast in one of the roadside cafes.
After a fun celebration, Robbie returns to his home. There, the author introduces readers to the neighbors of Lokamp, ​​who, by the will of fate, ended up here. These are the Hasse married couple, constantly quarreling over finances, the applicant Georg Blok, who is making every effort to enter, although he suffers from a lack of money, as well as Count Orlov, who is tormented by memories of life in Russia. The plight brings together all the inhabitants of the house - they help each other with money, useful advice and a good attitude. Not far from the guesthouse is a cemetery and the Café Internationale, where Robbie once worked as a pianist.
Robert makes an appointment with Patricia Holman, a girl he met at a roadside cafe on her birthday. While waiting for her, Lokamp drinks cognac. The cafe has a lot of customers, so they move to the bar. Fred, the owner of the establishment, greets Robbie, which gives the latter confidence. There is no one in the bar except Valentin Gauser. Robert has known him since the war. Valentin received an inheritance and now spends money on alcohol. Gauzer is happy that he did not die, and now celebrates it every day. Lokamp believes that Gauser is the only one who managed to make his own little happiness out of trouble. It's hard for Robert to keep up a conversation with Pat, but after drinking a lot, his tongue is still loosened. Seeing Pat home, Lokamp realizes that he is drunk. He is annoyed by this thought and, returning to the bar, gets completely drunk.
After consulting with Lenz, Robert sends Pat a bouquet of roses as an apology. Lokamp can't stop thinking about the girl. Her appearance in Robbie's life makes him reconsider all his views on the world. He remembers how the young men have changed after returning from the war. Despite their young age, they were devoid of faith. They were overcome by the desire to fight everything that was in the past - with lies and pride, self-interest and indifference, they stopped trusting anyone except their best friends. The time when spiritual values ​​dominated has passed, now everything is decided by money and position in society.
Robert and Pat met again. A girl who has never driven a car before gets behind the wheel for the first time on a deserted street. At this moment, Robert and Pat feel an incredible closeness. This is followed by a trip to a bar, where they meet Lenz, with whom they go to an amusement park. After the lovers ride on the new carousel and roller coaster, the whole company goes to the pavilion, where they put plastic rings on hooks. Thanks to the agility of friends and experience (they had so much fun being at the front), Robbie and Lentz win all the prizes not only in this pavilion, but also in the next one. The third was closed by the arrival of the winners. Joyful friends distribute all the prizes won to passers-by, leaving only wine and a frying pan for themselves.
Lenz and Kester are respectful of Robert's feelings, so they gladly accept Pat into their society. Thus, she ended up at the races that Kester had signed up for. All week, the comrades carefully watched the "Karl". The rest of the mechanics chuckle at the Cadillac, which infuriates Lenz, though Robbie manages to calm him down. The start for "Karl" was unsuccessful - he left the penultimate one. But towards the end, he accelerated and, taking advantage of the interference in the enemy’s engine, Kester is ahead of him by two meters. Friends want to celebrate the victory in the bar, but the bartender Alphonse invites them to his place at his own expense. Comrades accept the invitation with great pleasure. At the feast, a lot of attention is paid to Pat, so Robert suggests that she slip away unnoticed. They go to a quiet and foggy cemetery near Robbie's boarding house, where they will then go. Pat likes Lokamp's room for its warmth. The girl falls asleep with her head resting on Robert's arm. Now he understands that he is loved, although he does not realize why.
There is no money, so friends at the auction buy a car and take turns working as drivers. The first was Robert. He got into a fight with a competitor, but then they became friends and drank vodka together. So Robbie became a taxi driver and made a new friend, Gustav.
Lokamp first visited Pat's apartment, which she once owned. Now the girl rents two rooms. The furniture here is tastefully selected and only reminds of the former well-being. Pat takes out rum and talks about his thorny life path; she had to endure hunger and a whole year in the hospital. She is still experiencing financial difficulties, so she gets a job as a record salesman. Robert is unhappy that Pat will have to depend on someone, but he cannot help the girl with anything. He is tormented by doubts that perhaps Pat does not need a man like Robbie, but a better one.
Robert manages to successfully sell the refurbished Cadillac, which he immediately informs his friends, who are amazed by the commercial success of Lokamp, ​​which does not happen to them so often. After receiving the check, Robbie takes a two-week vacation and takes Pat to the seaside. On the way, they stop in the forest, where they lie on the grass and listen to the cuckoo. The girl counted a hundred calls of the cuckoo and says that this is how much she would like to live. Kester took care of Pat and Robert - he announces the upcoming arrival of the couple Frau Müller, the owner of the hotel where Otto stayed the year after the war. The lovers are relaxing on the beach, but Robert is again haunted by memories of the war years. AT 1917 soldiers also basked on the beach without equipment and weapons. Soon many of them were killed. In the evening, the couple went for a walk in a Citroen, which was overshadowed by a sudden deterioration in Pat's health. The next day, she started bleeding. Robert seeks help from Kester, who finds Dr. Jaffe, who once treated Pat. The doctor was soon brought to the patient. After a couple of weeks, Pat felt somewhat better that she was able to get home.
Jaffe tells Robert the girl's medical history and strongly recommends resuming treatment at the sanatorium. He takes Lokamp on his rounds to show patients who are recovering. It was necessary for Robert not to show his anxiety. To cheer up the stalemate, he brings a gift from Gustav - a cute, thoroughbred puppy.
Working as a taxi driver does not provide much income, so Gustav invites Robert to go to the races. He is very lucky there. Appealing to Robbie good luck at that time was very helpful - "Karl" soon had the next race. Before the eyes of Robert and Gustav, an accident occurs, they help the victims get to the hospital and negotiate the conditions for repairing the damaged car. But they already have dangerous competitors - four other brothers saw this accident, and also wanted to get an order. The fight was tough (one of the brothers had already served time for murder), but the comrades won and immediately set to work.
The weather has deteriorated: it has become cold, and the rain is pouring without stopping. Dr. Jaffe informs Robert that Pat must be urgently taken to a sanatorium, where they are already waiting for her. The resort is located in the mountains, and the blue sky, bright sun and fluffy snow will definitely benefit Pat. Many former patients returning to the mountains meet on the train. Pat and Robert spent a week together.
However, here too, failure awaited friends. The owner of the car, which was recently repaired by friends, went bankrupt, and the car was put up for auction. The car is not insured, so the comrades will not receive anything for the work done. A decision was made to sell the workshop, as there is no other way out.
Robert is having dinner at the International Restaurant, where he meets some acquaintances. One of them, Lilly, a reluctant prostitute whose wedding was recently so lavishly celebrated, is getting a divorce because her husband has spent all her money and is now outraged by the girl's past, supposedly unknown to him before. Robert contacts the sanatorium. He is informed that Pat does not get out of bed. Robbie is so upset that he gets drunk. Kester persuades him to drive, despite his drunken state.
There is unrest in the city due to the growing movement of the Nazis. The workers naively believe that the fascists do not care about politics, and firmly believe that they will be helped. Lenz also goes to the rally, who was later taken away by his friends. On the way to the car, four guys appeared out of nowhere, one of whom shot Lenz. Kester tries to catch up with the killer, but he fails. Gottfried Lenz died.
Robert, Kester and Alphonse decide to find the culprit. In a suburban cafe, the killer was able to slip away, but was then killed by Alphonse anyway. Robbie and Kester leave for Pat, as they received a telegram asking them to come as soon as possible.
There is not enough money, so friends had to go to "Karl". Kester and Robert skeptically listen to the consolations of doctors and stories about the recovery of the hopelessly ill. Friends take Pat out of the sanatorium for lunch in the countryside. On the way back, they admire the sunset. Everyone understands that this is the last sunset of the girl, but they are silent about it. Kester leaves and soon sends money; Robbie realizes that Carl has been sold. Pat, too, can no longer listen to the consolations of doctors, so he asks Robert for permission to do whatever he wants, so that in last days be absolutely happy. In March, when landslides began in the mountains, Patricia Holman died.

The action takes place in Germany around 1928. Three former soldiers, comrades from the First World War - Robert Lokamp (Robbie), Otto Kester and Gottfried Lenz - have a small car repair shop in the town.

They usually earn money thanks to Inspector Barzig, an expert from the Phoenix Insurance Company, who delivers cars after accidents for a car repair shop. AT free time three comrades drive an old car with a large body. For modest appearance and the enormous speed that the car develops, three friends nicknamed him "Karl" - "the ghost of the highway." In addition to repairs and driving, comrades like to drink with Ferdinand and Valentin in Alphonse's pub or the International cafe, where Robbie plays the piano.

Robbie befriends local prostitutes Lily, Rosa, the transvestite Kiki, and hermit widower Stefan Grigoleit, chairman of the Cattlemen's Union. Not far from the International, Lokamp rents a small apartment in a building near a cemetery. The mistress of the house, Frau Zalewski, loves Robert, and Frida, the maid, is at enmity with him.

Robert or Robbie, as he is commonly known, met a charming girl from a wealthy family, Patricia Holman (Pat). Although Robbie and Pat came from different backgrounds, they developed an affectionate relationship. The novel depicts the development of their love against the background of the economic and political crisis in pre-war Germany.

Issues

The novel continues the theme of the "lost generation". People who have gone through the fear of war cannot escape the ghosts of the past. War memories constantly torment the protagonist. Hungry childhood caused the illness of his beloved. But it was the military fraternity that rallied the three comrades Robert Lokamp, ​​Otto Koester and Gottfried Lenz. And they are ready for anything for the sake of friendship. Despite the death that literally permeates the novel, he talks about the desire for life.

Robert Lokamp (Robbie) main character, it is on his behalf that the author narrates. Co-owner of the Avrema auto repair shop, loves strong alcoholic drinks, and above all, rum.
Otto Kester is a friend of Robert since the war, the founder and co-owner of Avrem, an amateur race car driver. Calm and balanced in nature.
Gottfried Lenz - comrade of Robert Lokamp since the war, co-owner of Avrem. Hot, cheerful, sensual, for which he is often called "the last romantic." Tall and thin with a mop of straw hair on his head.
Patricia Holman (Pat) is a slender, thin girl with silky brown hair and long fingers. She came from an impoverished aristocratic family.
Ferdinand Grau is a plump artist who paints the dead to order and loves to philosophize.
Valentin Gauser is Robbie's comrade since the war. He was especially worried about her, because he was very much afraid for own life. After returning from the front, he undertook to celebrate life and enjoy every minute of it - to drink away all his huge inheritance.
Alphonse is the owner of a pub and a great friend of Lenz. Likes fights and choral music. A strong, calm person with small eyes.
Selected quotes "Walking graveyard steaks" - the final phrase of a drunken Robbie during a quarrel with a fat passer-by.
Modesty and conscientiousness are rewarded only in novels.
“Only a fool wins in life, a wise man sees too many obstacles and loses confidence until he has time to start something.” - Ferdinand Grau.
“We all live with illusions and debts ... Illusions are from the past, and debts are at the expense of the future,” Gottfried Lenz and Ferdinand Grau.
“A woman should not tell a man that she loves him. Let her shining, happy eyes speak for it,” Robbie.
Love is born in a person, but never ends in it.
Happiness is the most uncertain and costly thing in the world.
To be able to forget is the motto of today, and endless reflections, really, are useless!
It is sometimes necessary to deviate from principles, otherwise they do not bring joy.
Human life lasts a very long time for one love.
Morality is an invention of mankind, but not a conclusion from life experience.
"It's better to die when you want to live than to live to the point that you want to die" - Pat.
"If you want to live, it means that there is something that you love" - ​​Pat.

"Three Comrades" tells about the friendship of three friends who, in the post-war years, show all their dedication in order to preserve it. The feeling of mutual help and support for each other is very well described by the author of "Three Comrades" ( summary), where, despite any obstacles in life, friends do not despair and are ready to support not only each other, but also those who need their help.

Robert Lokamp, ​​Otto Kester and Gottfried Lenz have been inseparable friends since their school days. Together they also passed. After graduation, they decide to open their own auto repair shop. Even if the salary is small, it was enough to live on. Memories of the past war sometimes did not leave friends, and often they remembered the dead comrades.

The proud property of friends was the car they purchased, which they called "Karl". Sometimes, rolling along the roads, they had fun on it, periodically overtaking other cars. In one of these "distillations" they meet Patricia Holman, who later becomes part of their company. Soon her friends called her Pat for short. Robert took a liking to Patricia and took her out to dinner from time to time. Although he somehow lacked the courage to start a conversation, but spending time in a bar, he gained courage with the help of alcohol. Robert shows affection to Patricia all the time, such as teaching her how to drive. In this regard, Robert was helped by his friends, sending her flowers on his behalf. When they go to the amusement park, they win all kinds of prizes there, surrounding themselves with a crowd of fans.

Soon, Kester, a master of auto racing, signs up to participate in races where the Nutcracker was the main competitor of "Karl". After painstaking work, the car was ready for the race and everyone was waiting for victory. And she was. For some time, their company gained popularity after the victory. Robert and Patricia gradually became close to each other, meeting frequently and secluding each other.

Due to the lack of a permanent income, friends decide to buy a taxi at an auction and take turns earning money on it. While working as a taxi driver, Robert meets Gustav. Later, Robert visits Patricia's apartment for the first time. In a conversation, she told Robert about her past and that she was alone in this world.

A little later, Robert profitably sold the refurbished Cadillac. His friends were very happy with this deal. After that, Robert and Patricia go on vacation to the sea. There, lying on the beach, Robert remembers his colleagues, with whom he also spent time on the seashore. During one of the evening walks in the car, Patricia becomes ill, and the next day she started bleeding. Friends find Dr. Jaffe, who undertakes to treat her.

So that Patricia does not get bored during her illness, Robert brings her a puppy - a gift from his friend Gustav. Working as a taxi does not bring any profit and Gustav invites Robert to go to the races, where he wins. "Karl" began to prepare for races again in order to earn even more money.

The cold season has come. Jaffe asks Robert to immediately send Patricia to the mountains, where his friend will take care of her. They stayed there for a week. Soon, due to debts, friends have to sell their auto repair shop. Soon, Robert also learns that Patricia's condition is deteriorating and he gets drunk with grief. But Kester comes to the rescue and helps him calm down.

Lenz goes to the demonstration. Robert and Kester go looking for him. At the rally there was the usual fascist propaganda, where promises rained down on people. Friends find Lenz, but when they leave, they shoot at him and he dies. Kester rushes to find the killer. But soon the killer was punished. Then a telegram was received from Patricia asking her to come as soon as possible. On their "Karl" Robert and Kester came to Patricia. The doctor began to comfort them, talking about the miraculous recovery of patients, but for friends such consolations were familiar.

Patricia knows she doesn't have long, but she tries to hide it from her friends. Friends have yet to say anything about the murder of Lentz. Soon Kester leaves and after a while sends money. Robert realizes that "Karl" is sold. Robert's despair knew no bounds. Robert spends more time with Patricia, allowing her to enjoy moments of happiness in the short remaining time. But every day she was getting weaker. She died soon after.

This is how Remarque presented the plot “Three Comrades” (summary), where he left an excellent standard of friendship and mutual assistance for generations.

1. Erich Maria Remarque

2. "Three comrades"

3. For grade 9

5. The work was written in 1936. In history, these years are preceding the Second World War. Russia has a new constitution. And in Germany, troops are being formed and hostilities are taking place. In addition, in the parliamentary elections in Germany, 99 percent of the votes were cast for official candidates from the Nazi Party.

6. The action of the work takes place in Germany around 1928. Field Marshal Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorf und von Hindenburg was in power.

7. Robert Lokamp Age 30 He is the lover of Patricia Holman. He has two true friends - Gottfried Lenz and Otto Kester. Robert often drinks and tries to forget what happened in the First World War, in which he participated.

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Otto Kester is also 30 years old. He is an amateur race car driver, he has a favorite car "Karl" He is also fond of boxing. Lenz is the same age, he was also their comrade at the front. He was an easygoing and positive person. Outwardly, he stood out in the crowd with a straw mop of hair. Pat is distinguished by female wisdom, tenderness of character and an infinite desire to live, but, alas, she cannot do this, as she is ill with tuberculosis.

8. The book tells about the life of three comrades who found themselves together after the last war. They decide to create a car repair shop, in which they themselves work. One day Robert meets Pat and realizes that he is in love. Friends like Pat, as she somehow somehow unites them even more. We see several happy moments of lovers, their dreams and hopes. But everything collapses when Robert finds out that Patricia is sick. She needs money for treatment. At this time, Lenz dies. Kester rushes to the hospital where Pat is staying and gives Robert the money he got from selling his beloved Carl car. But nothing helps...

9. The book is unique, in it you can trace the state of the people in this period - between the First and Second World Wars. All of them are broken, used, but they just want to live, love and, if possible, have fun. But the consequences of the war do not allow to translate these desires into reality. After all, Patricia is sick and precisely because of a difficult childhood. And hopes are shattered. The characters remain lonely and unhappy. The book is really great and I really enjoyed it. Both the form of the story and the meaning embedded in it.

Updated: 2018-08-04

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