I think the entire point of virtual machines is that you don't have to worry about the fact that you're running on one, unless you literally need hardware access in your programs (which is unlikely for . NET).
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.