Emmanuel Macron has drawn fierce criticism over plans to celebrate Nazi collaborator Philippe Pétain’s role as a “great soldier” in the First World War.

Petain led France's Vichy regime during the Second World War and was sentenced to death for collaboration before then-president Charles de Gaulle, a longtime admirer, reduced the punishment to life in prison.

But he was a hero of the First World War. A 58-year old colonel at the start of battle in 1914, Pétain earned acclaim for stopping the Germans at the Battle of Verdun and assumed command of the French forces in 1917, rebuilding troop morale after a series of mutinies and other setbacks.

A ceremony will be held on Saturday to commemorate the eight marshals who commanded French forces during the First World War, including Petain.

"I consider it entirely legitimate that we pay homage to the marshals who led our army to victory," Mr Macron, 40, said in the eastern town of Charleville-Mezieres, part of a tour of northern France making the centenary of the Armistice.

"Marshal Petain was a great soldier in World War One, it’s a fact,” Mr Macron said, while stressing that the former leader had made "disastrous choices" during the Second World War.