After carrying out a short depth charge attack on the S 13, (Capt Marinesko was by then long gone) Capt Hartig of the T 196 returned to the Steuben but there was little he could do, given that the ship sank wihin seven minutes. A few of those passengers who were in condition to do so ran toward the stern, hoping the bow would hit the shallow bottom and would leave them high and dry but it was not to be as the ship rolled on itself and they too became casualties. While no accurate figure has been published, it is estimated that some 3000 drowned within those short seven minutes.

Most of those who managed to jump in the water became casualties from cold and exposure and only approximately three hundred were picked up by the T 196 and other escort ships. They were taken to Kolberg.

On the 12th of February, Capt Marinesko was ordered back to base at Turku (Abo). It was only when he arrived at Turku, on Feb 14th, that he learned he had sunk the Gustloff and also that he had sunk the General Steuben and not an Emden Class cruiser. Captain Oryel, his superior, told him that, they had learned of his accomplishments from an article published in the Swedish newspaper Stockholm's Tidningen. (Note: see the chapter on the Tidningen's article for more details.)