Hitler may have used the language attributed to him. The question is whether it was a politically attractive formulation that sounded better than admitting Germany might have to fight a much larger navy. A quotable statement still has to be weighed against its audience, context, and the incentive to say one thing while believing another. Dislike of a historical actor is not evidence that every strategically foolish claim attributed to that actor was sincere.
Notable Point · 24:23-26:23
Separating Hitler's rhetoric from operational intent
Statements about forcing Britain into alliance may have framed a meeting politically without describing what German naval planners actually expected the fleet to do.