The 15th Army, as part of the 8th Army, took part in the Winter War from 12 February to 13 March.[1]
Reformed at Birobidzhan, Soviet Union, from the 2nd Red Banner Army in June 1940. It formed in July 1940 as part of the Far Eastern Front. Until August 1945 the army defended the Far Eastern borders of the USSR. On 5 August it was incorporated into the newly created 2nd Far Eastern Front. On 9 August, during the Soviet–Japanese War, the 15th Army, consisting of shock troops, participated in the Sungari operation. Its advance units entered Harbin on 20 August. Through the end of August, the 15th Army destroyed the scattered pieces of the JapaneseKwantung Army. Conducted border operations through mid-1945. Participated in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and the crossing of the Amur River in August 1945.[citation needed]
In May 1957, rifle divisions were reformed into motor rifle divisions. On 17 May 1957, the 56th Rifle Division became the 56th Motor Rifle Division (in this case the 357th Rifle Regiment was renamed as the 390th Rifle Regiment);[2] The 41st Rifle Red Banner Division was renamed the 41st Motor-Rifle Red Banner Division. The 79th Rifle Sakhalin Division was renamed the 79th Motor-Rifle Sakhalin Division. All three newly renamed divisions formed part of the 15th Army.[citation needed]
On 1 April 1958 the 41st Red Banner Motor Rifle Division was disbanded.[3]