You could set it in and around WW2,. You could have content from the Spanish Civil War, through the French Resistance, maybe even towards the Decolonisation of Indochina (Vietnam war DLC!)...
Dunno about your neck of the woods, but here, if you find a Japanese Beetle, you should capture and turn it in (the English translation is only partial).
I've had good experience with JBLs, using a Live Beam 3 rn. Cheaper ones might be around your price range.