Fyodor Petrovich Ozerov was born on 6 February 1899 in the village of Klishino, Ugonskoy Volost, Lgovsky Uyezd, Kursk Governorate.

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 and Svisloch.

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.

[1] After Operation Barbarossa began on 22 June 1941, Ozerov led the 5th Rifle Division fought in the Border Battles on the Northwestern Front, fighting in defensive actions west of Kaunas.

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 on 31 August.

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 while awaiting reassignment.

[1] Ozerov was included in the group of officers under Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov 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, then in July was appointed chief of staff of the Volkhov Front.

[3] For his "skillful supervision of staff work" during the Leningrad–Novgorod offensive, Ozerov was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 1st class, on 21 February 1944.

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.