You are looking for ITrayDeskBand but good luck with getting anything out of the MSDN documentation. I suggest a web search for ITrayDeskBand and looking at the top hits that aren't on MSDN! For example, this from the Code Project looks useful.
Note that since this is a shell extension, most of the code you find will be native because . NET shell extensions are somewhat frowned upon.
Use this link to go for, msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff69912....
You tagged a couple of different languages, so I didn't know which to focus on so here's an MSDN article that gives you pointers on how it works. It's written for Windows XP, and I'm not sure that the tech hasn't changed in Windows 7, but it's a good start. msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb77681....
You need to develop a ToolBand for this. You can either develop one yourself or use a library like EZShellExtensions.
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.