Did Western allied soldiers know much or anything about the fight between the Germans and the Soviets prior to D-Day? Did they learn more after the invasion of Normandy? Did they know anything about Soviet defeats and victories, or arms and equipment?
Did Soviet soldiers know much or anything about the fight between Japan and the U.S.? Were there V-J celebrations in the USSR or did they not really care?
Primarily curious about the perspective from common soldiers or junior officers.
I can only speak of the British experience here, as several years ago I inherited my Great-Uncle's bound collection of 'The War Illustrated'. He served in North Africa and Italy, but he was a compulsive collector (luckily for posterity). In TWI (priced at 6d per week) there was quite a lot of news about warfare on other fronts, at least in vague terms of where there had recently been fighting, profiles of generals and decorated soldiers who had commanded or served there, with a generally patriotic slant.
In the 1940-2 period, the magazine seems to talk less about actual fighting occurring, and focuses more on home front advice and 'contributions of our allies' with many pictures of some 'tribal' looking peoples in Asia or Africa signing up for military service.
The articles on the fighting on the Eastern front quite often seem pretty formulaic, with several pictures of shaven-headed serious-looking European Russians, either posing with the Soviet flag, standing next to a large portrait or bust of Stalin, or next to a burnt out German tank.
There is a wider variety of photographs from the US island hopping campaign, and many portraits of smiling American Marines and Soldiers receiving awards.
I would love to hear more about this from a US or Soviet perspective, but I hope this snap-shot of one serviceman's war helps too.