You may have a setting on that erases old emails after they have been in your inbox for a certain amount of time. Check in your settings to turn that off (i don't know exactly where to find it because I don't know what email server you use). The deleted emails may still be in trash, otherwise they are probably gone.
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.