The widening of the political gulf in the period 1932-35 is dynamically expressed in terms of social clashes. Panhellenic strikes by civil servants and organized student demonstrations were added to the wave of regular strikes and the protests of farmers with burdensome debts. The national revenue shrank from 640 million drachmas in 1929 to 330 million in 1932. Respectively, the per capita income remained stagnant or decreased during the 1930s.
After an extended period of instability and immediately after the coup of 1935 inspired by Venizelism, the General Georgios Kondylis used the Public Security Forces to mercilessly suppress what he called 'Venizelo-communism' (democrats, socialists and communists). At the same time he carried out a purge of the army that affected more than a thousand officers, some of whom were executed. Under these circumstances, without specific and substantial support, the Republic was led to collapse.