The body, that is, the part of the brain that is responsible for your emotions, like sadness, requires a grieving period. Each week should be a little less difficult for you, but the grieving process takes around 6 months. So, it is good, normal, and healthy for you to grieve for your friend.
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.