During WWII, Hitler executed approximately 500,000 who tried to
escape from the army or displayed cowardice.
On the allied side, they only executed one. And that was during the
battle of the bulge where the number of deserters rose.
Execution results in loss of manpower definately, but do you think
those executed are more of a liability to the force if they had
been given a chance and lived?
Would you shoot a deserter or someone who's a coward?