Milestone's use of existentialism in All is Quiet on the Western Front is great because he lays it out to us so frankly, and this in turn adds to the message of war's shocking reality. He tears you out of any protected world or ideas you had and kills any hope you may have held on to.
I feel like these existential ideals were necessary, however, in portraying the merciless brutality of war. After all, if people have the idea that God will be able to help them no matter what, war won't seem so scary. For that reason, I appreciate what he did in the film, regardless of if I agree with it.
The old saying comes to mind, "There are no atheists in foxholes (trenches)."
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