If she wanted, but we live in a modern time when women don't have to change their maiden names - see the novel "Risk Assessment". Also, Eve Myles didn't want her surname to change for whatever reason. Probably because Gwen would be in no way defined by a man.
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.