It was forced to retreat after German troops broke through in October 1941 and subsequently fought in the Battle of Moscow.

After the end of the offensive, the army held its positions and transferred to the Demidov area in late 1942.

In the fall the army advanced into the Baltic region and fought in the Riga Offensive (1944) and the Battle of Memel.

In 1945 the army fought in the East Prussian Offensive before being placed in reserve near the end of April.

[2] From its formation the army defended the Desna River south of Yelnya on the line of Kholmets and Bogdanovo, fighting in the Battle of Smolensk.

[5] On 8 August,[6] Pavel Kurochkin was appointed army commander in place of Zakharkin.

[7] During the Dukhovschina Offensive, a portion of the army was to attack west across the Desna south of Yelnya.

The German attack was part of Operation Typhoon[9] and broke through the defenses of the 43rd Army, creating a 4-6 kilometer wedge in its positions.

[14] On 7 October, Ivan Bogdanov reported that army commander Pyotr Sobennikov had only a group of staff officers with him.

[15] The army retreated in heavy fighting back to the Mozhaisk Defence Line.

The army was pushed further back to the Nara River northwest of Serpukhov, where it stopped the German advance.

[16] From January to August 1943 the army was positioned on the shores of Lakes Lososno, Rydov, Sapsho, and the village of Muzhitskaya, 42 kilometers north of Dukhovshchina.

Subsequently, the army destroyed the German pocket and captured Lepiel on 28 June.

During the advance towards Riga, the army fought in fierce battles for Biržai, which was finally captured on 6 August.