The book has consequently been criticised for glorifying war, especially when compared to Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front. Although the book does not gloss over the deaths of many, the most intensely emotional passages are reserved for enthusiastic fighting and for placid moments.

Even when the narrator experiences true horror, such as while marching into the Battle of the Somme, he seems more concerned with lucid description of, rather than reactions to, it. However, Jünger attempts to consistently convey a posture of noble dauntlessness in himself and those soldiers that he praises. Jünger describes his experiences without apparent restraint, and the result is a quite graphic book. He was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and was the youngest ever recipient of the Pour le Mérite. In total, Jünger was wounded 14 times during the war, including five bullet wounds. On 23 August he suffered his most severe wound when he was shot through the chest. Jünger led a company of assault troops during the final German Spring Offensive, 21 March 1918 when he was wounded again. In 1917 Jünger saw action during the Battle of Arras in April, the Third Battle of Ypres in July and October, and the German counter-attack during the Battle of Cambrai in November. Here Jünger was fortunate to be wounded again, shortly before the final British assault which captured the village - his platoon was annihilated.

In 1916, with the Battle of the Somme underway, Jünger's regiment moved to Combles in August for the defence of the village of Guillemont. He rejoined his regiment on the Arras sector. His first taste of combat came at Les Éparges in April 1915 where he was first wounded.Īfter recuperating, he took an officer's course and achieved the rank of Ensign. Storm of Steel begins with Jünger as a private entering the line with the 73rd Hanoverian Regiment in Champagne.

Jünger's storm of steel