The Soviets had enough advance warning of the German Army's approach to remove most grain and cattle supplies from harm's way.

The Russian preparation for the Defense of Stalingrad was unfolding on the day to day advancement of the German army. Reports from the front lines reached Joseph Stalin at his Dacha, and at the Boss's office each and every day. Stalin had issued a no surrender decree to his front line officers during the German armies advancement, hoping to slow down their assualt on Russian soil.After the capture of Stalin's son by German forces,and the propaganda letters published and released by his captor's,..Stalin turned the war situation over to Zhukov and his High ranking officers,Knowing full well that the battle would be on his doorstep in a few short weeks.