All quiet on the western front chapter 2

In Chapter two of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Remarque is trying to convey a message of "Manhood and Childhood". The loss of innocence is great for these young men because it shows that the war's horrendus deeds are erasing the images of childhood, these young men are starting to realize what it means to become an adult.
Though these so called "iron youth"(19) seem ready to fight and survive, they don't know what it means yet. Paul and his friends still have the innocence  and must be woken up to show that they know what to do and how to do it so that they might be able to understand and act upon their will to survive this war. For these boys thought that war would be easy and that they could be lazy, yet once they saw Kimmerich die then Paul realized. Life is something so fragile that it can be taken at any moment. Now is the time to wake up and say that he lives in this world and that he will survive. Now is the time in our lives to let go of the childish things. We no longer need the rattle or to be coddled, for we are strong and can understand right from wrong. There will be things in life that are uncomprehendable, but there will also be no limits to what we can learn and what we know. For we are still kids at heart even if we do not show it. But our outside appearance is who we are shown in that world. Will we be a coward? Courages? Scared? We may never know unless we can control and get up out of the play pen to show who we can be. Just like these boys need to learn in this novel.