Why did so many people die on the wilhlam gustlogh in the baltic sea

Question

Why did so many people die on the wilhlam gustlogh in the baltic sea

Answer 1

The ship went down in minutes.

The water was freezing cold.

The ship was incredibly overloaded.

It was a typical Russian war crime.  They went to great lengths to obliterate the wreck so an investigation could not be done.

Answer 2

The M.S.  Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by a Soviet sub in wartime. On January 30,1945 in the Baltic Sea. Nine thousand died. Most of them from exposure when hitting the water. The water temperature in that body of water in January does not permit one to stay alive for long.