Marshal's star


The marshal's star is an additional badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the Soviet Union, and subsequently the Russian Federation. The armed forces of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation have two such insignia for higher military ranks, both in the form of a five-pointed star of gold and platinum with diamonds. They are worn around neck when in parade uniform. There are two different sizes of star. Officially their names have changed, depending on what ranks received the right to wear them, and are known as the large marshal's star and the small marshal's star.
The marshal's star corresponds with the western use of the marshal's baton. On the death of the recipient, the award is returned to the diamond fund for re-use.
In 2013, new shoulder insignias were instituted for generals of the army, fleet admirals, and generals of the army which have one large marshal's star on the board similar to the style worn by Soviet generals from the early 1970s through 1997.

Recipients

The official name, size and number of diamonds correspond to the marshal's rank. Marshal's stars were first awarded to the marshals of the Soviet Union and admirals of the fleet of the Soviet Union. In time, smaller stars were awarded to "marshals of an arm of service" and "chief marshals of an arm of service", admirals of the fleet and later generals of the army of the Soviet armed forces.

Large marshal's star

The "large marshal´s star" was the distinction insignia for OF10-ranks as follows:
It is a gold five-pointed star with smooth diagonal rays on the front side. In the center is a platinum, five-pointed star with diamonds. The diamonds in the center have a total weight of 2.62 carats and in the rays there are 25 diamonds weighing a total of 1.25 carats. Between the edges of rays are 5 diamonds weighing a total of 3.06 carats. The diameter of the gold star is and the platinum stars are in diameter. The star has a depth of.
The marshal's star has a triangular eyelet in the upper beam which is connected to an oval eyelet measuring. The marshal's star is suspended by a moire ribbon. The total weight of the large marshal's star is. Approximately 200 of this type of marshal's star were produced.

Russian Federation

In the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the large marshal's star was the defining insignia for the rank Marshal of the Russian Federation until 21 January 1997.

Small marshal's star

Soviet Union

The "small marshal´s star" was the distinction insignia for F9-ranks as follows:
There was no formal decree pertaining to use the "marshal´s star – small" as distinction insignia to chief marshal of the branch ranks. However, after promotion from "marshal of the branch" to "chief marshal of the branch" the appropriate general officers continued to wear the "marshal´s star – small".
The decoration is a five-pointed gold star with smooth dihedral rays on the obverse. On top of the gold star there is a smaller five-pointed star made of platinum. In the center of the platinum star there is a 2.04-carat diamond. In the rays of platinum star there are twenty five 0.91-carat diamonds. The total diameter of the gold star is and it weighs. It is connected to a moire ribbon in the same way as the large star. About 370 small marshal's stars have been produced.

Russian Federation

In the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the small marshal's star was the defining insignia for the ranks general of the army and admiral of the fleet until January 21, 1997.

Ribbons

A Marshal of the Soviet Union's star used a red satin ribbon suspension; ribbons for marshals of a branch varied accordingly: gold for artillery, light blue for aviation, burgundy for armoured troops, crimson for engineers, blue for signals, and turquoise for the navy.