Commemorative patch for completion of the Somme Historic Trail. Within this violent war there was a battle more destructive then ever before; the Battle for the Somme. Fought in 1916, this massive Allied offensive on the war’s western front in France and Belgium was designed to break through German defenses and relieve pressure on French forces along the Meuse River near Verdun (another TAC historic trail). Although both sides suffered enormous casualties, the battle did strategically weaken German forces through sustained attacks and barrages and forced them back to their defensive line: the Hindenburg line.