I don't know if there were personal recorders, but the University of Washington
has recorded archives of news broadcasts from local radio stations.

You can also get newsreels from the National Archives (pretty expensive).

SR writes:

I was wondering if durring WW2, did people record audio broadcast on
shortwave and if they, what are these recording called and where could I
hear them at?

73
--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA