One idea could be a modern-day historian who accidentally travels back to the Versailles negotiations after WW1. They could try to change the terms of the treaty, knowing the long - term consequences it had. For example, they might attempt to make the reparations more lenient on Germany, which could potentially prevent World War II.
Give your characters flaws. A British diplomat could be overly proud of his country's victory and be dismissive of other viewpoints at Versailles. This would make him more believable. Also, consider their backgrounds. A German character might be bitter about the war's outcome and the way his country was being treated at the talks. Let these emotions show in their actions and dialogue.
A young WW1 infantryman would make a great main character. He could represent the 'old - school' values and combat style of WW1. When he travels to WW2, he has to adapt to the new warfare, and his journey of adaptation could be very interesting to follow.
Maybe a young journalist. They are curious and eager to discover the truth. In the fanfiction, they could travel back in time to the Treaty of Versailles and report on the events as they unfold. They might expose some behind - the - scenes secrets that could change the outcome of the treaty.
One idea could be a soldier from WW1 suddenly finding himself in the middle of a WW2 battle. He might use his old - fashioned combat skills in a new and more advanced war setting. For example, his experience with bayonet charges could be a shock to the modern - day soldiers he meets in WW2.
A common character is the time traveler themselves, usually someone from the modern day. There are often soldiers, both Allied and Axis, like a brave American GI or a determined German officer. Civilians also feature prominently, such as a French Resistance fighter or a British housewife trying to survive the Blitz. And sometimes, there are historical figures like Winston Churchill or Adolf Hitler who the time traveler may interact with.
Soldiers are very common. They could be from either side, like an Allied soldier who goes back in time to give strategic advice, or a German soldier who has a change of heart and tries to alter the course of the war. Another common character is the civilian time traveler. They might be a historian who wants to experience the war first - hand or a regular person who accidentally gets sent back in time.
One interesting WW2 time travel fanfiction could be about a modern-day historian who travels back to WW2. They might use their knowledge of the war to change small events and see how it affects the overall outcome. For example, they could prevent a key intelligence leak that would have otherwise given the enemy an advantage.
Some common themes in WW1 time travel fanfiction include the alteration of historical events. This could be something like a time traveler trying to save a loved one who died in the war. There's also the theme of cultural clash. A modern - day person suddenly in the WW1 era would face differences in fashion, language, and values. And a prevalent theme is the butterfly effect. A small change made by the time traveler can have huge and unexpected consequences on the course of the war and history in general.
One interesting plot could be a modern person traveling back to WW2 and using their knowledge of future technology to help the Allies in a covert way, like improving communication systems. Another could be a time traveler trying to prevent a particular tragic event during the war, such as the bombing of a certain city. And there might be a plot where the time traveler has to adapt to the harsh wartime conditions and forms unexpected friendships with soldiers on the front line.