The genocide of six million people sums up the infamous and painful global conflict that is World War II. From 1939 to 1945, the 2nd World War took many lives. Iconic bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s history invariably connects him to this gruesome legacy. Being acquainted with the aftermath of the global war, the Austrian once spoke about the heart-wrenching catastrophe.

The Terminator actor’s father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, served as a Nazi soldier in Sturmabteilung, the paramilitary wing of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party. Being a witness to his father’s dark past of war and bigotry, the Austrian often raises his voice against prejudice and hatred. Likewise, last year, the 7x Mr. Olympia visited one of the main Nazi Death camps to meet with the families of war survivors. Following this, he talked about the havoc that the conflict caused to millions.

Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up about the catastrophe that killed millions

As per the report of the Atlantic, the 75-year-old visited the Auschwitz Concentration camp in Poland at the invitation of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation in September 2022. There he met with the families of the Holocaust survivors, including the woman (Lydia Maksimovicz) who was subjected to gruesome experiments by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. After he returned from the trip, he shared the ferocious reality the survivors faced during the war. The bodybuilder stated, “We know people were killed there and exterminated.”

The Terminator then gave the example of the 1993 drama, ‘Schindler’s List’, which revolves around the mayhem caused by World War 2. The former governor mentioned, “all the gassing, the torture, all this misery, and all that kind of stuff. You can read about it, see documentaries about it, see movies – the Schindler’s list, all this stuff.”

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Defining the visuals he experienced during his visit to Poland, the 75-year-old said, “I’m a visual person; it’s one of my things”. “When I was walking around, I was going back to that era.” Nevertheless, while he was in Poland, he also gave a message of eliminating hatred and injustice from society.

The Austrian’s heartfelt message about peace and harmony

While addressing the people of Auschwitz, the Terminator asserted, “People like Lydia show us how important it is to never stop telling these stories about what happened 80 years ago…This is the story that has to stay alive”. He continued, “I love fighting prejudice and hatred!”

Before leaving the podium, the Austrian said in his parting words, “It’s a great honor to be here with all my friends…So amazing, and will never forget!” With his motto of ‘history needs no repeat’, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a keen follower of peace and justice. “You don’t have to be stuck in that…have the capacity to change”, says the icon.

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