The grand plan was to secure the Don and Volga first and then drive into the Caucasus towards the oil fields, but operational considerations and Hitler's vanity made him order both objectives to be attempted simultaneously.
Den overordnede plan var at sikre sig Don og Volga først og så fortsætte ind i Kaukasus mod oliefelterne – men operationelle overvejelser og Hitlers forfængelighed fik ham til at give ordre til, at begge mål skulle forsøges nået samtidig.