Lieutenant General Stepan Chernyak. The army launched several unsuccessful attacks during February and April. On 8 May, German troops launched Operation Trappenjagd (Bustard Hunt). Troops of the XXX Army Corps broke through the front lines of the 44th Army. A German landing behind the main line of resistance unhinged the 44th Army's second echelon. The army's line soon collapsed, and the German troops captured 4,514 prisoners by the end of the day.The army retreated into Kerch and was evacuated to the Taman Peninsula. The army suffered heavy losses during the battle. Battle of the Caucasus On 20 May, the 44th Army became part of the North Caucasian Front and was concentrated in Tikhoretsk. It moved to Makhachkala soon after. On 29 May, Chernyak was relieved of command because of the defeat in Crimea. He was replaced by Major General Andrei Khryashchev. On 16 June, the army was composed of the 138th, 156th, 157th, 236th and 302nd Rifle Divisions, among other units. It was transferred to the Transcaucasian Front. Until August, the army held a defensive line from Gudermes to the mouth of the Terek River. During this time, Khryashcev was replaced in command by Major General Ivan Yefimovich Petrov. On 9 August, the army became part of the front's Northern Group of Forces. During the fall of 1942, it fought in defensive battles in the Caucasus. On 10 October, Petrov was promoted to command the front's Black Sea Group of Forces and was replaced by Major General Kondrat Melnik. In November, Melynk was transferred to command the 58th Army and was replaced by Lieutenant General Vasily Khomenko. In December, the army pushed German troops back to positions north of Mozdok during a series of counterattacks. 1943 During January 1943, the army attacked towards Stavropol during the North Caucasian Strategic Offensive. It captured Stavropol on 21 January. On 24 January, it became part of the reformation of the North Caucasian Front. The army transferred to the Southern Front on 6 February. It continued the advance and captured Azov on 7 February. By 18 February, the army reached the line of Ryasnyi on the left bank of the Sambek River, east of Taganrog. The army held the line until the beginning of the Donbass Strategic Offensive in August. During the offensive, the army helped capture Taganrog on 30 August. Along with units of the Black Sea Fleet, the 44th Army captured Mariupol