One item from my notes today:
The last major conference prior to operation BARBAROSSA takes place at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. In this meeting Hitler re-emphasizes his belief that the destruction of Russia will compel Britain to seek terms for peace. He also makes it known that more than the acquisition of land, this battle is for the destruction of Bolshevism.
This is more on this in the excerpt from Shirer's book in reply #3 above.