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The Real Winners of WW2Here are opinions

• There are no true winners in war. For there are always the dead and maimed. America profited well financially from the war. Britain had to pay the US for use of resources and machinery, leaving Britain heavily in debt, thus Britain's empire eroded as the cost of retaining it was too much when compared to the debt they were in. The Soviet Union profited well territorily. They set up many supportive regimes in countries that were pro Soviet, securing their borders and having a powerful influence in Europe and the world. The US and USSR came out best off, whereas Britain suffered. Switzerland profited well from staying neutral, hording Nazi gold and looted belongings that the Germans had placed there for safe keeping. Japan of course, is now a major economic power based on America's model of capitalism. But in total reality, there are no true winners in war.

• Who won the peace? The major winners of WW2 were the US and Germany. The US became the leading superpower while Germany'S economy was rebuilt by the US. West Germany, in fact became one on the richest countries in the world on a per-capita level. Soviet Union certainly made territorial gains but they were not substantial. Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechloslovakia and Hungry were relativly poor countries prior to the war. Only Hungry and Czechsloslovakia had any substantial indusry prior to the war. Bulgaria and Poland were primarily semi-autocratic agargarian socities where close to 70% of their respective workforces worked in agriculture.

• Switzerland, Russia, and Great Britain benefited the most. None truly win in war. Switzerland, Russia, and Great Britain benefited the most at the end of the war for the following reasons: Switzerland ended up grabbing any spare money the Nazi's left behind in their own country. After taking that, they also realized that because they remained neutral, they lost no money due to buying or manufactering weapons, tanks, etc. Russia gained a vast amount of land for their home, and I would argue that it is not worth all the lives of those who died for all that land (there are others who would argue against me, that's your decision and I respect it). Great Britain is the third because they managed to survive through dozens of bombings and raids on their homeland. Germeny bombed them frequently throughout their 'march and conquer' plan across Europe. I would not like to say that the U.S. benefited from this war, seeing as how America was strong going into it and strong going out of it (the main reason for this is because America entered the war very late.)

• If you think the economic explanation of WWII was that Germany wanted to ensure that they get access to world market and get enough share of wealth, which was impeded by British Empire worldwide. At the end of the war Germany achieved that objective. The British lost the empire, got drowned uder a huge debt and Germany reemerged as an economic superpower. In fact, until recently (till German reunification) West Germany was well ahead of England in economic indicators e.g. per capita income.

• The idea that Germany won the war in any sense is absurd. The country has been well and truly cured of any dreams of world power status. That was a fundamental issue in WW2. Moreover, ever since WW2 Germany's reputation has been badly tarnished.

• Those who say that in some sense Germany "won" obviously have no idea of the mood of despair among many German nationalists at the end of WW2 and the number of ordinary Nazis who committed suicide, in some cases killing their kids, too. Unlike in 1918-1919 Germany had surrendered unconditionally. This meant that the victorious Allies could just as they pleased with Germany. Many Germans suspected that Germany was about to be split into several small, non-viable little countries. Every major German city had been severely bombed, mothers and children returned from evacuation to find they had to live in ruined houses. Married women often had absolutely no idea whether their husbands were still alive, and so it went on. For the second time in a generation there was hyperinflation, with the postwar currency having lost at least 85% of its value. The population was subject to 'de-Nazification', which was regarded as humiliating. It was the unexpected emergence of the Cold War and the long postwar boom that helped the West German economy. On the other hand Germany's reputation was in ruins. There can be few countries that were *morally as bankrupt* as Germany after the war. Last but not least, ask former East Germans and expellees from further east if they think Germany "won the war".

I have it to ! you can get a kit from the dealer for 50 bucks and spend 4 hours taking the whole thing off and putting it back on or pay a mechanic 150 bucks an hour to do it for you i just ignore mine not worth the troubleI think I have the same problem. Over time, the top of the Contour's dash board has warped, causing the plastic grill that directs the blower air to pop out. The dealership said the entire dashboard had to be replaced and it would cost well over $1000. As an alternative, they suggested forcing the plastic grill back into place, then using epoxy to hold it in position. However, they would not do this work. I would be on my own. I haven't tried it yet, because I don't think it will work.

I had the same problem with my 99 Contour SE. I had the entire dash replaced in 2002 (dealership did it for free). Two years later (June 2004) it has happened again. I just got a quote from the dealership today. To replace dashboard again plus labor is about $375.00. I've seen this topic come up on other Ford Contour forums, seems to be a common problem. Otherwise I love my car. Good luck!

I Too have the same problem with my '99 Contour SE. Another friend of mine with an older Ford Taurus had a similar problem as well, and he predrilled some holes and eventually had to screw down the Dashboard, without replacing it. The problem with the Contour however is that space is so tight between the windshield and top part of the dash that its nearly impossible to work in there without taking off the windshield. My dashboard has been a problem for close to 2 years now, and I think I'm going to finally try and do what my friend did, and screw down the dash, however it doesn't look like it will be easy to do.

I had the same problem in 2001 and now again in 2004. My dealer fixed it the first time but now tells me that with Ford it is a one time fix and I am out of luck and on my own. I plan to use epoxy as a temp fix until I can get some answers from Ford or the dealer. Good luck to you.

I also have a Ford Contour 1999 that has the dash warping. The air vent is also popping out. I had the dealer replace it in 2001 and it still did it again. I did a little research on it and this is the only car that doesnt have the dash clips on it. (looks like a really strange looking paper clip.) I figured that If I used epoxy (one rated for high temps) that this would work. MMMM no! What I did do though is a found a really large surenge and mixed my epoxy and then added it to it (it keeps the mess down) I then inserted the exoxy as far under the dash (through the air vent cover once it was removed) as I far could get it. I then found some (you going to laugh) some small hurricane reienforcement brackets (strong metal that doesnt cost alot, and will not bed by hand easily). Found some that had the same size and width as the defroster vents just cut to fit. to just fit in the dash knotches on both sides(not the cover look inside the dash air vent) and used black zip ties to secure the dash to the vents and stuffed towels to push the dash down long enough for the epoxy to cure (longer cure more set up time about 24 hour cure time). I let my care sit for a day or two and then put the air vent cover back on. I think the trick is the type of glue. It took me about $30 for all the parts and epoxy and some of my time about two hours. I havent had really any problems as of yet. I don't recommend this to eveyone though.

I too had the same problem, it is a faulty part. I have had it replaced twice (free under MW). They know it's a problem, and don't wan't to admit it, but when I pressed the issue, they replace it both times at no cost to me.

I had the problem also. I tried to repair it but the dash material was so stiff I coildn't hold it down and try to snap the vent in at the same time. A stone just append to crack the windshield. I made an appointment to have it replaced and ask the glass shop to call me when they had the old windshield out so I cound come over and try to fix it with the windshield out. They were kind enough to do that so I went over and glued the dash down with a spray adhesive and then was able to screw down the grill. My advice is to follow a gravel truck!

I had the problem also. I tried to repair it but the dash material was so stiff I couldn't hold it down and try to snap the vent in at the same time. A stone just happend to crack the windshield. I made an appointment to have it replaced and ask the glass shop to call me when they had the old windshield out so I could come over and try to fix it with the windshield out. They were kind enough to do that so I went over and glued the dash down with a spray adhesive and then was able to screw down the grill. My advice is to follow a gravel truck!

at one time ford had a recall on them

New HeadlineSame problem with my '99 Ford Contour SE. In the course of a single hot Stockton day, my dash curled up so bad the defroster now barely works. I had to remove the plastic grill over the vents because it got caught in my steering wheel during a turn. Ford did a good job with this car, but they screwed up royally with this part. It could have killed me. My plan is to douse it in vinyl conditioner and then heat it with a hair dryer to see if it becomes soft enough to epoxy back down. I doubt this will work though because the space is so tight.

I had the same problem with my '00 Contour. I lived with it for about 18 mos., but it was a bear on cold winter nights when the defrosters didn't hit the wind shield directly in front of the driver.

Just fixed it yesterday by drilling holes 6 in. apart across the whole dash, about 1/2 in. back from the front lip. Then we heated a finish nail to red hot with a torch. Holding the dash down tight we put the finish nail (held in a vice grips) down through the hole we drilled and melted a pilot hole in the hard plastic plate under the dash. We then put a self-drilling screw through the dash and the pilot hole and drilled it in with a 1/4 in. rachet (the only thing we could get in the tight space.)

Once we had screwed the whole dash down, we zip-tied the plastic grill back.

Not the prettiest job (you'll see the screws), but I have another 6 in. of visibility now and the defrosters will work in the winter again. Good luck!

My 1999 Contour SE had the same problem. It is a great little car and is now 10 years old with only 32k. I asked the dealership and they referred me to a car upholsterer but it was obvious that re-glueing had been tried before. My neighbor has the same car and the dashboards look like twins! They are badly peeled back and the defroster vents are hidden. We live in Florida thank goodness. I decided the easiest way to deal with it now it to trim off the excess vinyl and cover the dash with a custom cover. Who's going to look under there anyway?