As Wilhelm Gustloff had been fitted with anti-aircraft guns, and the Germans, in obedience to the rules of war, did not mark her as a hospital ship, no notification of her operating in a hospital capacity had been given and, as she was transporting military personnel, she did not have any protection as a hospital ship under international accords.
Deoarece Wilhelm Gustloff a fost dotat cu tunuri antiaeriene, germanii, respectând regulile de război, nu l-au marcat ca navă spital, nu a fost dată nici o notificare despre modul de operare a navei ca unitate medicală și, atât timp cât transporta și personal militar nu a avut nici o protecție ca o navă spital, în baza acordurilor internaționale.