Military desertion is regarded as one of the greatest crimes a combatant can be guilty of—and yet soldiers have been deserting their units since antiquity. For centuries, abandoning your post with the intention of not returning was punishable by death. But you could also be flogged, or branded or tattooed to identify you forever as a miscreant unworthy of the uniform. Today, desertion is rare, but the consequences are still severe, usually resulting in a fine, a spell in jail, and a certain dishonorable discharge. So, what are history's ultimate derelictions of duty?
Click through and take a look at those who fled from the battlefield.