You didn't mention your age but I too am an only child. We lived out in the country where we didn't have close neighbors. I will soon be 69 years old so I know what you're talking about.
I think something fun to do is go to a Senior Center and make friends with some of the older folks. They have plenty of time for you and would love having your friendship.
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.