How much dirt can I dump on my lawn without killing it?

You generally do not want to leave wood on soil. Mainly to keep it from rotting out or getting more readily infested by insects. Put a couple of bricks or concrete pavers down under the ends of it.

Raise them up just an inch or so above the current level of the dirt.

It shouldn't sink in unless it's on soft dirt or sand.

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.