You should think about getting a blu ray and get rid of the dvd. Get a smart blu ray, not very expensive, and you can stream content from the net using the blu ray, just be sure it has wi fi. And you can use an antenna to pick up over the air HD tv, local.
Try your old antenna, it will probably work fine, then do a channel scan according to your tv's instructions.
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.