The First Cavalry Army (Konarmya) was the highest mobile and the strongest cavalry formation of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. According to the Decree of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic of November 17, 1919, it was established on November 19, 1919, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front based on the 1st Cavalry Corps under the command of Semyon Budyonny. In addition to equestrian units, the army included armored trains, armored detachments, and an air group.

Since November 1919, the Konarmiya served as a striking force in the main operations of the Red Army’s Southern and Southeastern Fronts. During the Donbass (December 18–31, 1919) and Rostov-Novocherkassk (January 3–10, 1920) operations of the Red Army, the Konarmiya participated in the defeat of Anton Denikin’s troops, captured Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don. During the North Caucasian operation of the Red Army in the Battle of Yegorlyk (February 25 – March 2, 1920), it defeated General Aleksander Pavlov’s cavalry group and advanced to Maikop.

Konarmiya excelled in 1920 in the Soviet-Polish war. The army arrived at the theater of military operations, having overcome 1200 km within 53 days, during which it fought with Ukrainian insurgent formations and the detachments of Nestor Makhno. By May 25, the Konarmiya had been concentrated in the area of Uman and became the main striking force of the Red Army’s Southwestern Front (commander Aleksander Egorov, member of the Revolutionary Military Council Joseph Stalin). It took part in the Kiev operation, during which on June 5 it broke through the enemy's defense and on June 7 captured Zhitomir and Berdichev. In July – August, during the Lvov operation, its attempt to capture Lvov diverted significant forces of the Polish army. During the Battle of Warsaw (July 23 – August 25), the Konarmiya failed to influence the course of events, since it arrived too late at the battle area. After its raid in Zamość at the end of August it was encircled (the Battle of Komarow), managed to break out but suffered serious losses.

In October 1920, the Konarmiya was transferred to the Southern Front to fight Pyotr Wrangel. It participated in the Reds’ counter-offensive in Northern Taurida (October 28 – November 3) and the Perekop-Chongar operation (November 7–17). In the winter of 1920–1921, it fought against the Insurgent Army of Nestor Makhno in southern Ukraine.

On May 4, 1921, the field administration of the Konarmiya was focused on forming of administration of the North Caucasian Military District, but the troops of the Konarmiya had remained subordinate to the Konarmiya headquarters until it was disbanded on October 26, 1923.

During the Civil War in Russia the First Cavalry Army became the strongest and the most successful cavalry unit completing strategic tasks.