Hauptsturmfuhrer Koch, the head of the camp's canteen, needed a Persian for some reason. It's not that Paul jumped at the idea so much, rather set aside a reward of 8 cans of stew in his head. His mother and sister are in Hamburg - sending them some of the stew would make him feel better. But Koch gave only two stews. Paul looks at Max's grumbling when he gives him only one stew, rolls eyes, muttering softly in response.

"He needs to make sure he's Persian."