Figurative map of the successive losses in men of the French Army
This visualization is inspired by Charles Joseph Minard's famous 1869 flow map, often cited as one of history's greatest statistical graphics. It depicts the catastrophic Russian campaign of Napoleon's Grande Armée, which began with 422,000 troops in June 1812, and ended with only 10,000 returning soldiers in December. The width of each colored path is proportional to the number of soldiers remaining at each position. The bottom graphic shows the plummeting temperatures during the retreat.
Inspired by Charles Joseph Minard's 1869 flow map of Napoleon's Russian Campaign.
The width of the colored zones is proportional to the number of soldiers in the French army.
Temperature is shown in Réaumur scale (0°R = freezing point, conversion: °C = °R × 1.25).