There are some residential housing with basements,but they are not common. The ground is a hard clay and in some places rock, plus the expense of basements is high so the cost of land being relatively cheap it is easier to spread out than dig down. If you are concerned about storms you can add a storm cellar or a safe room.
It would not be feasible to add a basement to an existing house.
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.