When debugging this sort of thing, it's always good to make sure you can connect using the command line mysql tool first, to rule out issues related to PHP itself.
A lot(if not all?) of hosting providers restrict remote access to the mysql database. Meaning that you can only connect via localhost. There is probably a mysql config section on the hosting provider that will allow you to config an ip address from which a certain user can connect from.
Good luck.
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.