Arnold's Austrian Military Service: Fact Or Fiction?

Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965, fulfilling the one-year service requirement for all Austrian males at the time. During his time in the military, Schwarzenegger won the Junior Mr. Europe contest. He also went AWOL during basic training to take part in a bodybuilding competition, for which he was punished with a week in military prison.

Schwarzenegger drove a tank during his time in the Austrian Army, and later bought the same tank he had trained on for $20,000.

Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon in 2014, Schwarzenegger shared a story from his time in the Austrian Army. He claimed that he and a friend had raced their tanks to see who could reach the bottom of a hill the fastest. Schwarzenegger won the race, despite his friend having a more advanced tank. As punishment, they were ordered to crawl through a mud obstacle course, which lasted around six hours.

Schwarzenegger has since purchased the exact tank he drove in the Austrian Army and has used it to raise funds for after-school programs across the United States.

He fulfilled the one year of service required at the time of all 18-year-old Austrian males

Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965 to fulfil the one-year service requirement for all 18-year-old Austrian males at the time. He was a tank driver during his time in the military.

During his army service, Schwarzenegger won the Junior Mr. Europe contest. He went AWOL during basic training to take part in the competition and then spent a week in military prison. He entered another bodybuilding contest in Graz, where he placed second. Schwarzenegger was voted the ""best-built man of Europe", which made him famous in bodybuilding circles.

Schwarzenegger has shared anecdotes from his time in the Austrian Army. In one instance, he claimed that he challenged a friend to a tank race to see who could get to the bottom of a hill the fastest. Schwarzenegger won the race, even though his friend had a more advanced tank. As punishment, they were ordered to crawl through a mud obstacle course, which lasted around six hours.

Schwarzenegger now owns the exact tank he drove in the Austrian Army. He paid around £20,000 to bring it to the USA. He has used the tank to raise funds for after-school programs across the United States.

Schwarzenegger was a tank driver in the Austrian Army

Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965, fulfilling the mandatory one-year service required of all Austrian males at the age of 18. During his time in the military, Schwarzenegger drove a tank and won the Junior Mr. Europe contest.

In 2014, Schwarzenegger revealed on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' that he had challenged a friend to a tank race during his time in the Austrian Army. Schwarzenegger won the race, despite his friend having a more advanced tank. As punishment, Schwarzenegger and his friend were ordered to crawl through a mud obstacle course, which lasted for around six hours.

Schwarzenegger now owns the exact tank he drove in the Austrian Army, having paid $20,000 to bring it to the USA. He uses the tank to support his charity, allowing children to come to his house to check out the tank and spend time with him.

He won his first bodybuilding title, the Junior Mr. Europe, while serving in the Austrian Army

Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965, fulfilling the mandatory one-year service required of all Austrian males at the age of 18. During his time in the military, Schwarzenegger won his first bodybuilding title, the Junior Mr. Europe contest.

Schwarzenegger has shared anecdotes from his time in the Austrian Army, including one in which he challenged a friend to a tank race. Schwarzenegger won the race, despite his friend having a more advanced tank. As punishment, Schwarzenegger and his friend were ordered to crawl through a mud obstacle course, which lasted for around six hours.

Schwarzenegger has since purchased the exact tank he drove in the Austrian Army, a 1951 M-47 Patton tank, and uses it to raise funds for after-school programs across the United States.

Schwarzenegger was put in military prison for going AWOL to take part in a bodybuilding competition

Arnold Schwarzenegger went AWOL during his Austrian military service in 1965 to take part in a bodybuilding competition. He won the competition, but was remanded to military prison for a week.

Schwarzenegger's single-mindedness and determination to succeed drove him to take part in the competition, despite the consequences. He had been training for years, and was already a successful bodybuilder, having won the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. However, he was still serving his one-year mandatory military service in the Austrian army, and was not permitted to leave.

Schwarzenegger went AWOL to take part in the competition, and won the title of "best-built man of Europe", which made him famous in bodybuilding circles. He was remanded to military prison for a week, but was released early when military officials felt uncomfortable about their decision. Schwarzenegger's win gave him the opportunity to compete in larger contests, and he went on to become one of the most famous bodybuilders of all time.

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