Just a tiny niggle, if I may. You say:
Nazi Germany had made no secret of its plans to go to war with Russia.
After signing non-aggression agreement with Ribbentrop on 23rd Aug 1939 (this after refusal of Britain and France to have a pact with USSR), Stalin thought that it only made sense that Hitler would attack USSR after invading Britain.
Nazi Germany did not announce any plans to attack USSR until it declared war on 22nd June 1941. Hence, it was secret until then.
USSR spies were reporting mixed signals, but mostly that it appeared that attack on USSR is imminent. Stalin did not believe them, but nevertheless started preparing for the war. Btw, Stavka misread the military situation and how and where the Nazi Germany will attack. Hence huge USSR losses in the beginning.
Just reading Stalin's wars by Geoffrey Roberts, hence it jumped out at me.
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