Man date on OSX has this example date -j -f "%a %b %d %T %Z %Y" "`date`" "+%s" Which I think does what you want. You can use this for a specific date date -j -f "%a %b %d %T %Z %Y" "Tue Sep 28 19:35:15 EDT 2010" "+%s" Or use whatever format you want.
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.