X-Men Apocalypse: 36 Easter Eggs, In-Jokes & References You Need To See

16. Auschwitz

Having reminded us all that there's a big Nazi influence on the narrative of the X-Men franchise as early as the opening credits, Apocalypse takes Erik back to Auschwitz where his powers first manifested themselves.

As part of that sequence we get flashbacks of footage from First Class, as Erik was separated from his parents and the same shot of the bent metal fence that both represents his anguish and becomes a focal point to enhance his powers.

Apocalypse basically uses the same technique here as Xavier did in First Class to get Magneto to increase his powers, and as a nod to that we also see a flash of the memory he uses in that film (his mother and he praying by candlelight).