The plot you are describing sounds like 1966's "Island of Terror" with Peter Cushing.
1 Search on IMDB. Com There are a lot of different ways to search there.
I watched this movie with my Dad one night when I was a Kid and all I can remember is that they had turtle like shells with snake like heads. They attacked and ate people from all kinds of places, they even attacked from trees. In the movie people knew they were near or close or ready to attack by the noise they made.
All I can remember is that the noise was rattle snake like and it was loud.
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.