The first version was created on 23 August 1941 from the Transcaucasus Military District, which was originally formed in 1922.

The boundary of the Front extended along the Soviet border with Turkey and along the Black Sea coast from Batumi to Tuapse.

The initial Front organization incorporated the four Soviet armies stationed in the district in June 1941: On 25 August 1941 troops from the Front entered Iran according to the Soviet-Iran Treaty of Friendship of 21 February 1921, which eliminated the direct threat to the Baku oil fields.

Soviet OOB for 25 August 1941:[2] 44th Army (Major General Alexander Khadeyev) 47th Army (Major General Vasily Novikov) 53rd Army (Major General Sergei Trofimenko) (invaded Iran from Turkmenistan, Central Asian Military District, on 27 August) As part of the Central Asian Military District (not the TCF), 53rd Army was described by the Combat composition of the Soviet Army as including 58th Rifle Corps (68th and 83rd Mountain Rifle Divisions, 389th Rifle Division), 4th Cavalry Corps (18th, 20th, 39th Cavalry Divisions), 44th Cavalry Division, and 72nd Independent Mountain Rifle Regiment (огсп) on 1 October 1941.

It was commanded by General Ivan V. Tyulenev (May 1942 - August 1945), and included the 4th and 58th Armies at various periods.