It was formed in April 1943 on the basis of three guards rifle divisions, which had distinguished themselves in battle to break through the siege of Leningrad – the 45th, 63rd and 64th (the last came from the Volkhov Front).

Until the second week of February 1944, the two armies of the Leningrad Front had deployed only vanguard elements while attempting to force entry into Estonia.

The artillery of the 2nd Shock army opened fire on all German positions on 11 February, continuing the Battle for Narva Bridgehead.

[1][3] General Major Romantsov ordered an assault at Auvere settlement by the Air Force and artillery on 13 February, with the 64th Guard Rifle Division seizing the village in a surprise attack.

[1][3][4] The corps was deployed during the postwar period on the Karelian Isthmus with the headquarters in the city of Vyborg (Leningrad Military District).