Let's assume that your 5 buttons are always available on the timeline and they are at the top document level (if not, we need to make some adjustments). Let's also assume that, from your question, you're not ready for the best practice of a document Class file, so this will be written as timeline script.
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.