This type of formation was created in accordance with prewar doctrine that called for Shock Armies to overcome difficult defensive dispositions in order to create a tactical penetration of sufficient breadth and depth to permit the commitment of mobile formations for deeper exploitation.

[1] However, as the war went on, Shock Armies lost this specific role and reverted, in general, to ordinary frontline formations.

On 7 January 1942, Vlasov's army had spearheaded the Lyuban offensive operation to break the Leningrad encirclement.

As a result of the strategic Soviet victory in this region, the 2nd Shock Army was moved south and assigned to the 2nd Belorussian Front.

As part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, the 2nd Shock Army fought across Poland and northeastern Germany, with its route of march taking it north of Warsaw and Stettin.

The 2nd Shock Army returned to the Soviet Union in January 1946, and its headquarters was reorganized as the Arkhangelsk Military District.

After the 2nd Shock Army was re-designated HQ Arkhangelsk MD's 116th Rifle Corps, its component units were spread among other districts.