Bruning faced immense difficulties as Chancellor. He was dealing with an economic crisis, which spiralled out of his control very quickly. Unemployment rose quickly, and the knock on effects caused this to rise further.

Bruning’s measures to deal with the problem consisted of higher taxes designed to pay for unemployment benefit. These were politically unpopular, and resulted in the Reichstag being unable to pass measures to tackle the problem. Bruning had to rely on emergency decrees which undermined confidence in the government and Chancellorship.

Bruning also banned the SA and SS in an attempt to keep the streets calm. Bruning also stated that the government would buy land from landowners to keep the unemployed in houses.

Bruning resigned in May 1932 after losing the support of the Reichstag and the President.