During the war, desertion was punishable by death. 战争时期当逃兵可处死刑。
There were thousands of desertions in the last weeks of the war. 在战争即将结束的最后几周时间里发生了数千起逃兵事件。
figurative There have been mass desertions from (= a lot of people have left) the party in recent months. 近几个月来出现了大量退党事件。