Normalization can result in decreased performance, but rarely if ever will it increase your performance in a case like this, because now the server has to look at two places on disk instead of just one.
If you are only talking about 2 characters - then probably not much use in splitting that to a new table.
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.