In accordance with a decree dated 26 March 1940 from the
Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, the
Arkhangelsk Military District was formed to oversee the
Arkhangelsk Oblast,
Murmansk Oblast,
Nenets Autonomous Okrug,
Vologda Oblast, and
Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The new district's headquarters were established in
Arkhangelsk on the basis of the
15th Army.
Second World War In July 1940 in Vologda the 29th Reserve Brigade was expanded into the
111th Rifle Division. Sometime before the beginning of
War on the Eastern Front, the Murmansk Oblast was transferred to the control of the
Leningrad Military District along with the local air defences, air forces, and coastal defences. Personnel reports for 1 June 1941 report the district overseeing around 35,515 personnel. On mobilisation the district formed the headquarters of the
28th Army. This army would go on to serve on the front but was completely destroyed trying to relieve the
Smolensk Pocket. The district was also due to form a
Front however this order was cancelled at an unknown date.
Disbandment On 15 December 1944 as part of a reorganisation of the military districts, the Arkhangelsk Military District was disbanded and subsequently reformed as the
White Sea (Belomorsky) Military District. The district was reorganised following end of the "Arctic Front" or
Second Soviet-Finnish War, and now included the
Arkhangelsk Oblast,
Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and
Vologda Oblast. Throughout the war the district had been in charge with training reserves, guarding the
White Sea coast, and ensuring the safety of the
Arctic convoys travelling to
Arkhangelsk, in addition to dispatching those supplies. However, following the end of the above-mentioned war, the need for two separate districts was removed. So, eventually, the White Sea District also absorbed the
Murmansk Oblast and
Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic into its area of control. == Second Formation ==