I think Death Note would be a great option for a first anime since it's very popular and well liked among anime fans. Death Note is about a boy named Light Yagami who finds a notebook called the Death Note. Once any human's name is written in the Death Note, they are killed within 40 seconds.
Light uses the Death Note to change the world, but a intelligent detective named L thinks the exact opposite. There are 37 episodes and I'm pretty sure you can find them all on Youtube. If not, try kissanime.com.
Here are some others that would make for a good anime. None of these have a strong amount of gore, and I sorted them by genre so you can find what you like: ACTION: Angel Beats Attack On Titan Code Geass Fairy Tail Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Gurren Lagann Hunter x Hunter (2011) Sword Art Online ADVENTURE: Baccano Cowboy Bebop Dog Days Elemtal Glade Eureka Seven The Familiar Of Zero Log Horizon COMEDY: Baka And Test.
Some of my favorites that are popular are madoka magica, sailor moon (there is a remake now called sailor moon crystal), sword art online. There's also attack on titan but it can be a little bloody but I liked it but it could be a little to much for you if really bothers you. Also there's vampire knight, black butler, and wolfs rain.
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.