It seems you try to use Python 2. X examples in Python 3 and you hit one of the main differences between those Python version.
To add to Jacek Konieczny's answer: You can also use str.encode() to get bytes from a string. If you have the string in a variable instead of a literal, you can call encode and it will return an equivalent series of bytes.
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.