Are there any social benefits to war? Is war sometimes necessary for the progress of a nation?

The Axis nations were no more evil than many of the Allied nations. What was Germany or Japan doing that was different from what Britain and France did in conquering the whole world or from what America did to our native Americans or Africans slaves?

Germany and Japan were essentially trying to imitate Britain and France. They were wannabees to the trend of genocide started by Britain, France and America.

War is a double edged sword. It's just a tool, not good nor evil. Just like you can use a knife to defend your family, you can use a knife to destroy someone else's family.

As for India. India gained it's liberation mostly because Hitler devastated the British homeland in WWII and Britain could no longer exercise control over it's empire. So in that sense, Hitler actually did some good for the world. He freed the world from Britain's oppressive rule, lol.

Are there any social benefits to war ? Not per se.

Is war sometimes necessary for the progress of a nation ?

Again, not per se.

The USA was still experiencing the effects of The Great Depressin upon entering into war against Japan and Germany. While true that America was "awakened" and went to work producing tanks, jeeps, ships, planes, guns of all types and the amunition the economy was a pseudo one. Waging war is sometimes necessary to ensure peace. Again, there are no social benefits to war.

Japan following their defeat and under the supreme authority of General Douglas McArthur as their vice-regal did in time progress as a nation. The Nipponese under McArthur became a stronger nation in many ways and eventually became our ally.

I'm not a warmonger either, I'm a cynic, but I prefer the term "realist".

Wars are great for cranking up the economy and thinning out the masses of trouble making young people.

A good full blown "total war" really stimulates scientific research too.

I think we understood genocide before WW2, so I missed your point there. It hasn't stopped it happening, the industrialised nations just seem a little more choosy about stepping in and stopping it since then ( Cambodia, Biafra, Croatia, Palestine and Sudan are some good examples)

WWII had to be fought. Hitler and the Japanese had to be stopped, absolutely. And then there is Osama bin Laden...

War - what is it good for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48KVZXroyjA

There has got to be a better way.

How Many American Troops Have Died in War?

See the tally for all wars Americans have fought in here:

http://hnn.us/roundup/comments/44965.html

War can be a tremendous boom to an economy, and it can be

very destructive to an economy. Additionally war can seriously

inhance progress but it is incedental. The war itself does not

generate progress; but intensified effort to increase progress is

inherently beneficial to a war.

They are definitely economic benefits for profiteers. The suffering outnumbers any benefit.

To the victor goes the spoils.

No. War is Hell.