My second language (english) makes it harder for me to learn german, because of the germanic language group and the similarities?

There are several differences, but the major one is that the Flemish don't have that guttural 'g' & 'sch' sound that is instantly recognisable with the Dutch. You can easily hear the difference in sound here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOIA--PfzG8 = Flemish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w4gMzn7uQ8 = Dutch Flemish just sounds softer.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.