Here in Russia Marinesko is Hero not for sinking woman and childern. He is

-ranged u-boat ace - nobody sunk more than him in tonnage. He was discriminated after war by authorities, otherwise he gained Hero-title and memorials on 60th years. From his positins sinking both Gustloff and Steuben was valid. Nobody from u-boat mens know about refugees on board these ships.
Even today some people in Russia didn't believe in so many civilians on board Gustloff. "Where is the proofs?" - say them. "Where lists of embarked children - we see only lists of u-boot trainee! We didn't believe to words, we believe only in documents and see none of thems". Some people still thinks that there was only 3700 soldiers on board and with them - thousands of "nazi bonzes" (i.e. high ranking NS, SS and so on).