All this foreshadows the first World War, which is only a year or so away from breaking out. Meanwhile Sinclair falls deeper in love with Frau Eva. She understands everything about him. She is able to make sense of his dreams; at times, she even remembers them better than he himself does. Sinclair is in constant conflict with himself over his love for her. She encourages him in his desire, telling him not to be afraid. But she also tells him that her love must be won, and for her to be attracted to his love he must be confident and unafraid. His love probably would have attracted her if it had not been for the events that came about in the summer of 1914. Shortly before the war begins Demian realizes what is to come, the tragic event that would change European society forever. It meant the death of the old world, an end to the conformity, a coming of a new age. Demian and Sinclair will be a part of this new world, they will be leaders because they have already accepted fate. One day Demian comes to tell Sinclair, "So it won?t be the end of the world, no earthquake, no revolution, but war. People will love it! Even now they can hardly wait for the killing to begin -their lives are that dull! The new world has begun and the new world will be terrible
for those clinging to the old."
World War I begins and Demian is sent first to the front since he is an officer. Shortly after, Sinclair is also called to the front as an infantry soldier. He leaves Frau Eva behind, and the comfortable world he lived at her side which offered him so much security and peace. He leaves for the war, and he is later wounded. As he lies on a crowded hospital floor he comes to consciousness only to find his beloved friend and brother lying Demian beside him. For the first time Demian brings up the memory of Kromer. Sinclair realizes at this moment that Demian is his salvation. Demian leaves Sinclair with a kiss from Frau Eva, and he leaves him with the assurance that he would forever be a part of him. Sinclair had found himself, his search was over, he had been saved.