Can I begin a story in 'present tense' but then switch to 'past'?

Tense ultimately deals with a life situation. Naturally it needs to be changed according to need.

No, you can't. Well, you can...but it's simply bad writing. "how would you suggest skipping some time/moving onto the next scene/transitioning in the story while still in present tense?"

I'd suggest flicking through all the present tense novels you read before embarking on your own to remind yourself how they do it. If you haven't read any, I'd suggest backing off and doing that first.

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.