When it comes to tragic military events, few would rate worse than the French invasion of Russia in 1812. A disastrous combination of situations resulted in the once powerful Grande Armée being reduced from nearly half a million strong, to a shockingly small 10,000 following their retreat. This vintage information graphic detailing the event was created by Charles Joseph Minard in 1869. It is an early masterpiece of good design.

Vintage Infographic: Napoleon’s Tragic Russian March