40th Army (Soviet Union, 1941–1945)

The 40th Army was a field army of the Red Army during the Second World War. The army was formed on August 26, 1941, as part of the Southwestern Front on the basis of the 27th Rifle Corps. Disbanded in May 1946, following the demobilization of the Soviet Union. The 40th Army was formed in August 1941 as part of the Southwestern Front of the First Formation on the basis of the 27th Rifle Corps. It was deployed (as part of the airborne corps and three divisions) along the Desna River to counter the enemy's breakthrough into the rear of the Southwestern Front from the north. The 38th and 40th Armies, which were outside the pocket, were to support the withdrawal of the troops of the Southwestern Front from the encirclement by striking at Romny and Lubny. At the forefront of the offensive of the 2nd Panzer Group were the Soviet 40th and 21st Armies. The 40th Army built defenses on the Glukhov–Chaplievka Front and further along the Desna. According to the task set by the front commander, the 40th Army had two areas for cover: Krolevets–Vorozhba and Krolevets–Konotop. In Directive No. 00332, the commander of the Southwestern Front demanded from the commander of the 40th Army "a strong cover for the right wing of the front from enemy attacks from the north". Thus, the center of gravity of the efforts of the 40th Army was concentrated on covering the southern and, in the extreme case, the southwestern direction, that is, the direction towards Romny or Priluki. The front command planned its actions based on the directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command No. 002374 on the transition of the troops of the Southwestern Front to the defense in order to prevent the enemy from seizing the Kharkov Industrial Region and Donbass. In accordance with this, the Kharkov Direction was covered by two armies (21st and 38th), and Sumy by the 40th Army. In mid–August 1941, the Southwestern Front went on the defensive on the left bank of the Dnepr River. Kiev was held by Soviet troops.