"I am often on guard over the Russians. In the darkness one sees their forms move like stick storks, like great birds. They come close up to the wire fence and lean their faces against it. Their fingers hook round the mesh"

This quote by Erich Maria Remarque paints a vibrant image of the fear and paranoia that surrounded the Russian individuals during the time duration in which it was written. The imagery of "stick storks" and "great birds" suggests a sense of danger and worry, as if the Russians were some kind of supernatural force. The fact that they are "leaning their faces versus the wire fence" indicates that they are desperate to get in, and their "fingers hook round the mesh" suggests a sense of desperation and longing. This quote speaks to the worry and mistrust that existed between the Russians and individuals of the time, and the sense of anxiousness that was felt by those who were on guard. It likewise speaks with the desperation of the Russian people, who were desperate to get in and be accepted.