The sieges in Ukraine demonstrate a resurgence of the siege phenomenon in modern conventional warfare. However, the siege of Bakhmut seems to be very costly for little use, which raises the question how we can understand it. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the siege of Bakhmut can be understood from using the terms attrition and maneuver warfare. To define the concepts, Edward Luttwak and Hans Delbrück theories were chosen and the methodology used in the study was a qualitative text analysis of media and think tanks reporting on the siege of Bakhmut. The conclusion of the analysis was that the intensity of the siege increased as the purpose of the siege became more politicized, but also two different perspectives on the siege emerged. One view suggests that the siege was a result of failed maneuver and confusion in the purpose of the operation. The other view suggests that the siege was an active choice based on the Wagner group's political background and the low quality of infantry. Of these two, the latter was considered the most relevant. The implications of the conclusions are that Bakhmut breaks an identified pattern in Russian siege art by Kristin Ljungqvist, where the siege of Bakhmut is not considered a failure of maneuver but rather a desired outcome. Finally, it is recommended to repeat the study when a source material of a higher critical value exists. / Belägringarna i Ukraina demonstrerar en återkomst av belägringsfenomenet i modern konventionell krigföring. Däremot verkar belägringen av Bakhmut vara oherhört kostsam för en liten nytta. Detta väcker frågan om hur belägringen kan förstås. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur belägringens uppkomst kan förstås utifrån termer av manöver- respektive utnötningskrigföring. För att definera termerna nyttjades Edward Luttwak och Hans Delbrück teorier, samt den metod som nyttjades var en kvalitativ textanalys av media och tankesmedjor som har rapporterat och analyserat belägringen.Slutsatsen av analysen var att belägringens intensitet har ökat i samband med att belägringen har fått en alltmer politisk innebörd. Det framkom även två perspektiv på belägringen. Den ena synen hävdar att belägringen var ett symptom av misslyckande då de ryska styrkorna inte uppnåde manöverkrigföring och att syftet med belägringen var tvetydigt. Den andra synen menar på att belägringen var ett aktivt val på grund av Wagnergruppens bakgrund och den låga kvalitén av infanteriet. Av dessa två anses den senare slutsatsen vara mest relevant. Implikationerna av detta är att belägringen av Bakhmut bryter ett tidigare mönster av rysk belägringskonst som har identifierats av Kristin Ljungqvist. Slutligen rekommenderas det att studien genomförs på nytt då källmaterial av högre kvalité är tillgängligt.

<p>The study examines the massacre of the garrison of the castle of Kalmar in 1525 and its causes. The goal of the investigation has been on the one hand to elucidate the most probable sequence of events, and on the other to identify as many different plausible explanations to the massacre as possible. For this end, four contemporary sources have been examined and compared in their details. To enable a broad basis for interpretation, the author has consulted various works on the themes of warfare, soldiers and violence in the late middle ages and the sixteenth century. Apart from political aspects, the study highlights social and cultural conditions as important factors in explaining how the massacre could be carried out without provoking any single part of society. Among these are found the idea of the perceived natural ferocity of siege warfare, the exposed position of soldiers in general and the low status of lansquenets in particular, as well as the increasing general acceptance of executions and retributional violence.The paper finishes with a discussion on the importance of the event under investigation as part of a greater whole, and asks whether or not it is worthy of the sparsely used label of ”blood bath”. In relation to this, the author inquires for an expanded historical debate on the relationship between cultural and social values and conditions, and the use of violence in society.</p>

The study examines the massacre of the garrison of the castle of Kalmar in 1525 and its causes. The goal of the investigation has been on the one hand to elucidate the most probable sequence of events, and on the other to identify as many different plausible explanations to the massacre as possible. For this end, four contemporary sources have been examined and compared in their details. To enable a broad basis for interpretation, the author has consulted various works on the themes of warfare, soldiers and violence in the late middle ages and the sixteenth century. Apart from political aspects, the study highlights social and cultural conditions as important factors in explaining how the massacre could be carried out without provoking any single part of society. Among these are found the idea of the perceived natural ferocity of siege warfare, the exposed position of soldiers in general and the low status of lansquenets in particular, as well as the increasing general acceptance of executions and retributional violence.The paper finishes with a discussion on the importance of the event under investigation as part of a greater whole, and asks whether or not it is worthy of the sparsely used label of ”blood bath”. In relation to this, the author inquires for an expanded historical debate on the relationship between cultural and social values and conditions, and the use of violence in society.