You shouldn't use xsl:value-of instruction but xsl:apply-templates instead: for built-in rule for text node will just output their string value, and for empty br element you could declare a rule matching descriptionStr/br or descriptionStr//br (depending your input) in order to transform to empty fo:block .
You could also replace with and add a linefeed-treatment="preserve" attribute to your .
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.