[1] The 44th Army was formed on 1 August 1941 from the 40th Rifle Corps, ostensibly to guard the Soviet-Iranian border in the Transcaucasian Military District.

[1] On 25 August, the army began its fighting in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran by crossing the border and moving into Gilan Province.

From 25 December, it fought in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula under command of Major General Aleksei Pervushin.

[8] Major General Ivan Dashichev became acting commander, leading the army during its retreat from advancing German troops.

The army suffered heavy losses from the German counterattacks and Dashichev was replaced in command by Major General Serafim Rozhdestvensky on 21 January.

The army's line soon collapsed, and the German troops captured 4,514 prisoners by the end of the day.

Until August, the army held a defensive line from Gudermes to the mouth of the Terek River.

During this time, Khryashcev was replaced in command by Major General Ivan Yefimovich Petrov.

On 10 October, Petrov was promoted to command the front's Black Sea Group of Forces[15] and was replaced by Major General Kondrat Melnik.

In November, Melnik was transferred to command the 58th Army[16] and was replaced by Lieutenant General Vasily Khomenko.

[17] In December, the army pushed German troops back to positions north of Mozdok during a series of counterattacks.

By 18 February, the army reached the line of Ryasnyi on the left bank of the Sambek River, east of Taganrog.