Einstein was always concerned with helping others and with politics. He took independent and sometimes controversial positions on political and social issues. There are a number of examples of this. In 1896, then only sixteen years old, Einstein became so disgusted with the Prussian militarism that had swept Germany that he renounced his German citizenship. He later became a Swiss citizen. Einstein returned to Germany when he was offered a prestigious post at the University of Berlin which would require little teaching and leave him free to conduct his scientific research. Einstein lived in Germany during WW I but, unlike most German scientists, he refused to help the German armed forces.