Since you are not living with your Mom, you should wait for it to happen. No doubt there will be many family members who will be upset with the secrecy, and will make their feelings known. Thing is can you be sure your Moms friend is not just speculating because this guy is with your Mom.
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.