Fyodor Petrovich Ozerov (; 6 February 1899 – 18 November 1971) was a
Soviet Army
uk, Радянська армія
, image = File:Communist star with golden border and red rims.svg
, alt =
, caption = Emblem of the Soviet Army
, start_date ...
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
who held
field army command during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
Early life and Russian Civil War
Fyodor Petrovich Ozerov was born on 6 February 1899 in the village of
Klishino, Ugonskoy Volost,
Lgovsky Uyezd,
Kursk Governorate
Kursk Governorate ( rus, Ку́рская губе́рния, r=Kúrskaya gubérniya) was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire, located in European Russia. It existed from 1796 to 1928; its seat was in the city of ...
. During the
Russian Civil War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Russian Civil War
, partof = the Russian Revolution and the aftermath of World War I
, image =
, caption = Clockwise from top left:
{{flatlist,
*Soldiers ...
, Ozerov was conscripted into the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
in October 1918 and sent to serve as a
Red Army man
Red Army man () was the lowest military rank in the Red Army of the Soviet Union from 1918 to 1946.
On 30 November 1917, after the October Revolution, the Military Revolutionary Committee cancelled all "officer and class ranks" in keeping with t ...
with the 34th Reserve Rifle Regiment at
Bryansk
Bryansk ( rus, Брянск, p=brʲansk) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna (river), River Desna, southwest of Moscow. Population:
Geography Urban la ...
. In December of that year, he was sent to study at the 3rd Moscow Infantry Command Course, and upon graduation in September 1919 was appointed to the 69th Rifle Regiment of the
8th Rifle Division as an instructor for staff duties under a battalion commander. From January to April 1920 he completed the Commanders Refresher Course of the
16th Army of the
Western Front, then returned to the regiment to serve as a company and battalion commander. With the 8th Rifle Division of the 16th Army he fought on the Western Front in the battles against Polish troops in the area of
Bobruisk
Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 209 ...
and
Svisloch. During the
Polish–Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War (Polish–Bolshevik War, Polish–Soviet War, Polish–Russian War 1919–1921)
* russian: Советско-польская война (''Sovetsko-polskaya voyna'', Soviet-Polish War), Польский фронт (' ...
, the division fought in the
Minsk offensive and the
Battle of Warsaw, then retreated into Belorussia. Ozerov was wounded in action near
Pruzhany
Pruzhany ( be, Пружа́ны, ; russian: Пружаны, pl, Prużana, yi, פרוזשענע, Pruzhene) is a town in Brest Voblast, Belarus. Pruzhany is the center of the district in Brest Region, Belarus. Its population is about 18,500 people ...
. In late 1920 and 1921 he fought with the division in the suppression of the forces of
Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz, Pavlovsky, and Korotkevich, among others, in
Bobruisky,
Mozyrsky, and
Igumensky Uyezds.
Interwar period
After the end of the war, Ozerov continued to serve as a company commander in the regiment at
Slutsk
Slutsk ( officially transliterated as Sluck, be, Слуцк; russian: Слуцк; pl, Słuck, lt, Sluckas, Yiddish/Hebrew: סלוצק ''Slutsk'') is a city in Belarus, located on the Sluch River south of Minsk. As of 2022, its population i ...
. From August 1921 to August 1923 he completed the
Vystrel course The Vystrel course () was the popular name for an officer training course of the Soviet Armed Forces, later part of the Russian Armed Forces, located in Solnechnogorsk. The training course had a one year curriculum to train battalion and regiment le ...
, and after graduation was appointed a company commander at the Kharkov Central Military-Political School. In November 1923 he was transferred to the Kharkov Military-Political School. The school was relocated to Leningrad and disbanded in September 1924, after which Ozerov served in the same post at the Leningrad Military-Topographical School. In March 1926 he transferred to serve as a company commander in the 58th Rifle Regiment of the
20th Rifle Division, and from April 1927 commanded a battalion of the 59th Rifle Regiment of the division. Ozerov completed the preparatory course for admission to the
Frunze Military Academy
The M. V. Frunze Military Academy (russian: Военная академия имени М. В. Фрунзе), or in full the Military Order of Lenin and the October Revolution, Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Academy in the name of M. V. Frunze (rus ...
at the
Red Army Military-Political Academy between October 1928 and September 1929, then was enrolled as a student in the special department of the Frunze Military Academy.
After graduating from the academy Ozerov served on the staff of the
Belorussian Military District
The Byelorussian Military District (russian: Белорусский военный округ, translit=Belorusskiy Voyenyi Okrug; alternatively Belarusian; ) was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces. Originally formed just before Wor ...
from March 1932 as assistant chief of a sector, and from March 1936 as chief of the 3rd section of the 1st department. He was enrolled as a student at the
General Staff Academy in October 1936, and after graduating from the 1st course of the academy in 1937 became an adjunct at the academy. In August 1938 he was granted the rights of an academy graduate, relinquishing his position as an instructor. Ozerov was appointed chief of staff of the
2nd Special Rifle Corps in October 1939. Later that year the corps was relocated to
Liepāja
Liepāja (; liv, Līepõ; see other names) is a state city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea. It is the largest-city in the Kurzeme Region and the third-largest city in the country after Riga and Daugavpils. It is an important ice-f ...
in
Latvia as part of the Soviet contingent garrisoned in the Baltic states after a series of treaties with the Baltic states. Ozerov took command of the
5th Rifle Division of the
16th Rifle Corps
The 16th Rifle Corps was a corps of the Soviet Red Army, formed twice.
It took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 and destroyed in the Baltic Operation during Operation Barbarossa. Reformed in 1942, the corps fought through the re ...
of the
11th Army of the
Baltic Special Military District in September 1940.
World War II
After
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War. The operation, code-named after ...
began on 22 June 1941, Ozerov led the 5th Rifle Division fought in the Border Battles on the
Northwestern Front
The Northwestern Front (Russian: ''Северо-Западный фронт'') was a military formation of the Red Army during the Winter War and World War II. It was operational with the 7th and 13th Armies during the Winter War. It was re-cr ...
, fighting in defensive actions west of
Kaunas. After unsuccessful attempts to stop the German advance, the division fell back on
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
, where it was encircled. Ozerov organized the breakout of the division from the encirclement on 26 June. For his "successful management of elements of the division, personal courage while organizing the breakout from encirclement, and skillful leadership of elements on the march in the absence of technical methods of communication and under pressure from the encirclement and continuous enemy air attack," Ozerov was awarded the
Order of the Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner (russian: Орден Красного Знамени, Orden Krasnogo Znameni) was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of t ...
on 31 August.
In late August, Ozerov was appointed chief of staff of the
34th Army of the front. He was dismissed on 24 September and appointed commander of the 898th Rifle Regiment of the
245th Rifle Division for "failure to support a planned combat operation." He took command of the division on 2 October, and was promoted to major general on 7 October. From January to March 1942 it fought in the encirclement of the
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket (german: Kessel von Demjansk; russian: Демя́нский котёл) was the name given to the pocket of German troops encircled by the Red Army around Demyansk, south of Leningrad, during World War II's Eastern Front. Th ...
as part of the 34th Army. Ozerov became commandant of Fortified District No. 90 of the front in March 1942 and was appointed commander of the
27th Army in May. He led the army while it defended a sector in the area of
Staraya Russa
Staraya Russa ( rus, Старая Русса, p=ˈstarəjə ˈrusːə) is a town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Polist River, south of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Its population has steadily decreased o ...
and in the elimination of the Demyansk salient. Ozerov was relieved of command on 29 January 1943 due to the "insufficient readiness of the army troops" for the offensive and placed at the disposal of the
People's Commissariat of Defense
The People's Commissariat of Defense of the Soviet Union () was the highest military department of the Soviet Union from 1934 to 1946.
History
In the 1920–1930s, the highest military authority of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic ...
while awaiting reassignment.
Ozerov was included in the group of officers under
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union (russian: Маршал Советского Союза, Marshal sovetskogo soyuza, ) was the highest military rank of the Soviet Union.
The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was created in 1935 and abolished in 19 ...
Georgy Zhukov
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( rus, Георгий Константинович Жуков, p=ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪj kənstɐnʲˈtʲinəvʲɪtɕ ˈʐukəf, a=Ru-Георгий_Константинович_Жуков.ogg; 1 December 1896 – ...
in April, and helped organize the defense of the
Kursk Bulge, inspecting the armies reinforcing the front. From June he served as general for assignments of special importance under Marshal of the Soviet Union
Semyon Timoshenko
Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (russian: link=no, Семён Константи́нович Тимоше́нко, ''Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko''; uk, Семе́н Костянти́нович Тимоше́нко, ''Semen Kostiantyno ...
, then in July was appointed chief of staff of the
Volkhov Front
The Volkhov Front (russian: Волховский фронт) was a major formation of the Red Army during the first period of the Second World War. It was formed as an expediency of an early attempt to halt the advance of the Wehrmacht Army Group ...
. He was promoted to lieutenant general on 25 September.
For his "skillful supervision of staff work" during the
Leningrad–Novgorod offensive, Ozerov was awarded the
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov (russian: орден Кутузова ''orden Kutuzova'') is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745–1813). The Order was established ...
, 1st class, on 21 February 1944. In March, after the disbandment of the Volkhov Front, Ozerov was appointed chief of staff of the
18th Army of the
1st Ukrainian Front
The 1st Ukrainian Front ( Russian: Пéрвый Украи́нский фронт), previously the Voronezh Front ( Russian: Воронежский Фронт) was a major formation of the Soviet Army during World War II, being equivalent to ...
. In this role, he participated in the destruction of German forces in
Right-bank Ukraine
Right-bank Ukraine ( uk , Правобережна Україна, ''Pravoberezhna Ukrayina''; russian: Правобережная Украина, ''Pravoberezhnaya Ukraina''; pl, Prawobrzeżna Ukraina, sk, Pravobrežná Ukrajina, hu, Jobb p ...
, the
Proskurov–Chernovitsy Offensive, and the
Lvov–Sandomierz offensive. In these actions the army crossed the
Southern Bug and entered the
Carpathians
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains at . The range stretches ...
. For his "active participation in the planning and execution of the operations of the army," Ozerov was awarded the
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 1st class, on 29 May.
Ozerov transferred to serve as chief of staff of the
50th Army of the
2nd Belorussian Front
The 2nd Belorussian Front ( Russian: Второй Белорусский фронт, alternative spellings are 2nd Byelorussian Front) was a military formation, of Army group size, of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. Soviet army g ...
in September 1944, distinguishing himself in the preparation of the
East Prussian offensive to eliminate the German forces in
East Prussia. He took command of the army on 2 February 1945 when army commander
Colonel General Ivan Boldin
Ivan Vasilievich Boldin (russian: Ива́н Васи́льевич Бо́лдин; in Vysokaya – March 28, 1965 in Kiev) was a senior Red Army general and war hero during the Second World War.
Early military and political career
A son of a la ...
was relieved. The army became part of the
3rd Belorussian Front
The 3rd Belorussian Front () was a Front of the Red Army during the Second World War.
The 3rd Belorussian Front was created on 24 April 1944 from forces previously assigned to the Western Front. Over 381 days in combat, the 3rd Belorussian Fr ...
on 11 February, and on 17 February captured
Wormditt, then from 6 to 9 April fought in the storming of the city during the
Battle of Königsberg
The Battle of Königsberg, also known as the Königsberg offensive, was one of the last operations of the East Prussian offensive during World War II. In four days of urban warfare, Soviet forces of the 1st Baltic Front and the 3rd Belorussia ...
. For his planning of the East Prussian Offensive, Ozerov received the
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov () is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named in honor of Russian Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov (1729–1800).
History
The Order of Suvorov was originally a Soviet award established on July 29, 19 ...
, 1st class. He simultaneously served as chief of the
Königsberg
Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was name ...
garrison from April 1945.
Postwar
After the end of the war, Ozerov served as chief of staff of the
Smolensk Military District from July 1945. He was assigned to the faculty of the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy (the renamed General Staff Academy) in July 1946, serving as deputy chief of the large unit tactics department. He became chief of the department in April 1948, and retired due to illness in January 1954. Ozerov died on 18 November 1971 in Moscow.
Awards
Ozerov was a recipient of the following awards and decorations:
*
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration ...
*
Order of the Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner (russian: Орден Красного Знамени, Orden Krasnogo Znameni) was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of t ...
(2)
*
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov () is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named in honor of Russian Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov (1729–1800).
History
The Order of Suvorov was originally a Soviet award established on July 29, 19 ...
, 1st class
*
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov (russian: орден Кутузова ''orden Kutuzova'') is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745–1813). The Order was established ...
, 1st class
*
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 1st class
*
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov () is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named in honor of Russian Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov (1729–1800).
History
The Order of Suvorov was originally a Soviet award established on July 29, 19 ...
, 2nd class
* Medals
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozerov, Fyodor
1899 births
1971 deaths
People from Kursk Oblast
People from Lgovsky Uyezd
Soviet lieutenant generals
Frunze Military Academy alumni
Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni
Soviet military personnel of the Russian Civil War
Soviet military personnel of the Polish–Soviet War
Soviet military personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Order of Lenin
Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner
Recipients of the Order of Suvorov, 1st class
Recipients of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class
Recipients of the Order of Kutuzov, 1st class
Recipients of the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky (Soviet Union), 1st class