Exploying the interplay of intelligence and foreign policy in the events leading up to the invasion known as Operation Barbaross, Barros and Gregor maintain that Stalin's policy toward Germany set the stage for the German invasion. The autjhors examine Stalin's mind-set to show how his desire to evade war enhanced the credibility of Hitler's deception operations and to demonstrate the extent to which Stalin's self-inflicted deception contributed to Germany's stratigic military surprise.