“victory” in WWI amounted to slaughtering many of their own mean during what was basically a waiting game until the US arrived and we helped overwhelm the ‘huns’.
However, I will say that he was pretty much begged by the French govt to take the role when the Nazis invaded and agreed to it reluctantly assuming that it would help to prevent at least some atrocities.
At least that is how I understand it.
Now if Macron paid tribute to Pierre Laval, that would be an entirely different kettle of fish.
It was not so much us as it was fresh British and French leadership in the field, and US financial support.