Mediawiki: render 'off-database' wiki text as HTML in PHP?

You can actually use the API even to parse custom wikitext using the parse action. (The title parameter is maybe a bit misleading, but it's really just a pointer for the parser when using, for example {{PAGENAME}} .) To parse existing page, the render action is used.

There are many wiki parsers available - http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Alternative_parsers.

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.