You're getting mixed up with grout and adhesive. Grout is used after tiling to fill the spaces. Whatever you do spend time working out where to start and don't assume worktops/sills etc are level...they usually aren,t.
Work ot where to start so that you don't end up with fiddling littel strips to cut which will look a pig and work off a straight edge wooden batten. You can comb the adhesive onto the walls with a notched trowel but don't do too much at once or the adhesive will form a light skin and not stick to the tiles. Also the surfaces you are tiling onto need to be clean & dust free... always a good idea to paint walls(especially those that have new plaster) with PVA watered down to about 4 to 1..... But spend a couple of hours if needs be to make sure that all the cuts work out especially round windows, which will be the focal point & what will be most noticed.... more.
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.