The league was formed in 1971 in place of the Class A Second Group of the Soviet football championship just a year after the division was downgraded to the third tier.

The experimental edition of the third-tier competition was re-introduced in 1946 as the Third Group of the Soviet football championship.

Republican competitions were conducted with the Soviet Second League which consisted of multiple groups (zones).

Initially the league consisted of six groups, but for the next couple of season was increased to seven before reducing back to six again.

Republican competitions continued to be conducted among collective of physical culture and were considered as amateur.