Looks like you must increase memory_limit in your ini file as file_get_contents will load whole file into a memory. Basically, if you want to get a large array - you must do that anyway. Or you may look for other way to read file and unpack it step by step, without reading whole file into a memory.
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.