What does it mean when someone claims that "fascism won" despite the Nazis losing World War II?

The assertion that "fascism won" despite Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II represents a provocative political commentary suggesting that fascist ideologies, methods, or structures persisted beyond the war's end. This perspective argues that while the specific Nazi regime was defeated militarily, broader fascist principles—such as authoritarianism, ultranationalism, or the merger of corporate and state power—may have found new expressions in post-war societies. This viewpoint reflects ongoing debates about how historical ideologies manifest in contemporary politics. Critics using this argument often point to modern political movements, government overreach, or corporate influence as evidence of fascist continuity, though such claims remain highly contested and reflect the complex nature of political labeling in current discourse.