I will specify this to european culture: 1. Drinking alcohol as part of culture 2. Christianity (not really a culture, but influences culture) 3.
Remnants of respect to elders (although that is starting to disappear) 4. Feeding the less fortunate 5. Wearing of shoes 6.
More advanced version of our current foods (e.g. hot dogs, and hamburger precursors were already present) 7. Shame.. altho shame is quickly disappearing today.. it is still somewhat present.. for e..g most of europe does not allow nudity.. (altho in reality it is very close to nudity).. back in 17th century woman could barely show their shins 8. Love for 'industry'.. this was when the industrial revolution was starting.. even today the west loves knowledge 9.
Giving rights to children (looking after them and defending them) 10. Cleavage was part of western culture even before.
Too many fundamentalist religious types about.
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.