XHTML would be more easily parsed with an XML parser, than with a regex. I know it's not what youre asking, but an XML parser would be able to quickly navigate to the body node and give you back its content without any tag mapping problems that the regex is giving you.
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.