The Weimar Republic faced significant unrest from its inception due to defeat in World War 1, the harsh Treaty of Versailles, and a fragile democratic system. Political extremism increased on both the left and right as the economic situation deteriorated with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929. Chancellor Brüning imposed harsh austerity measures which hurt the economy but failed to stabilize the political system. As the turmoil grew, conventional governing became impossible, paving the way for the rise of the Nazis.