The error message is "getFlushMode is not valid without active transaction" which doesn't have anything to do with whether there are tables or not.
Not sure if you saw this but there is a pretty detailed walkthrough on how to do this here.
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.