Soak the uppers only in warm water (perhaps upside down). Then wear the boots while they are wet. They will stretch a bit to conform to your legs.(assuming that they are leather or some natural material - it won't work with synthetics) It might damage the finish a little but at least it will help make them fit and then you can re-polish them after.
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.