It depends on your particular system. How much RAM? 4 GB RAM is enough.
It will be faster than OS 10.6.8. If it were me, I would still buy more RAM. NOTE: Many older apps won't run in OS 10.8. One option is to use Disk Utility to create a new partition (at least 50 GB) for OS 10.8. Then if you need to use older apps, boot to OS 10.6.8.
If you have a plan to use Boot Camp to install Windows 7, do that first. You cannot use Boot Camp after you have two Mac partitions.
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.