Huntington Beach Baker Honors His Father Assassinated in World War II

By C. MacDonald

You'll never find a nicer, more talented, happier baker than Paul Gauweiler, owner of The Cake Box in Huntington Beach, California. He has wonderful cookies (some with smiles), joyful, holiday-designed goods and his world-famous Baumkuchen (tree cake), which has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, New Yorker Magazine and on KTLA-TV. He's one of the few such tree cake bakers in the United States.

For many years, the 78-year-old has spread his happiness to our troops overseas, creating cakes for our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He never charged more than the ingredients costs and he made the cakes so that when the troops opened them in the deserts overseas, they would be fresh. The humorous man, who was the Disneyland Hotel's head pastry chef and prepares his goodies for American Idol, has been honored worldwide for his superb baking and humanitarianism.

Yet, deep inside this amazing chef lies a hurt that's been with him all his life. "I wish I could have grown up with a father," he once told me. His dad, Robert Gauweiler, 38, was assassinated by a Nazi firing squad because of his beliefs in 1944. "My father grew up in Germany as a Communist," Paul recalls. "He was a leader who walked the talk and was fearless. There are reports that when the Nazis took over Hamburg and raised the their flag, my dad climbed up a multi-story building and tore down their flag on top. He once spent two years in prison for his actions."

"As a young kid, when I would walk to school, a Nazi neighbor would shout, ‘Has your father been strung up yet?'"

In 1940, Robert joined the German Army. By 1944, he was urging other soldiers to throw down their arms. "Another soldier turned him in, we have a pretty good idea of who it was," the baker said. "My dad was taken away and later lined up against a wall and shot by a twelve person firing squad."

But before he was murdered, they let him write a letter to his wife and family. In his final words, Robert told his family this is the last time they will hear from him. "For the last time I will think of each of you…. I ask for your forgiveness for all the problems I've caused you…. I was not a criminal, just a man with strong convictions, who has to die for it….. When my children are older and can think, they will not think that I was a criminal. I regret to have to leave you in this fashion…."

Shortly thereafter, Robert was lined up against a wall and killed. His last act of defiance was raising his fist as the triggers were pulled.

You can see and hear Paul painstakingly read that final, emotional letter, which was printed in a German book, "When They Stand Me Against The Wall," by going to youtube.com and typing, Regimes Sessions. The posting instantly became viral, with thousands of views, and has drawn worldwide attention. Recently, Historian Paul Dreblow of Berlin, whose grandfather was an East German border guard in World War II, came to the United States to interview the baker about his dad for German museums and publications. Dr. Marc Voss, Ph.D. of Chapman University and Brent Ogden, co-founders of the Regimes Museum (regimesmuseum.org) are gleaming as much information from Paul and others as they can.

"Paul's story about his father and family is incredible and the way he tells it, compelling," Ogden said. "This is such an important part of what we're trying to do—explore the phenomenon of tyranny, repression and dictatorships across cultural and historical landscapes."

There is talk by historians in Hamburg to have a street named after Robert Gauweiler near the location of the wall where he was shot. Stay tuned.

Robert Gauweiler's last letter to his family appears in the book, "und wenn sie mich on die Wand stellen"

I will be shot by... It's still unbelievable but it's true. Lieber .. and dear children, take my passing from this world calm and in peace which I will do, too. In front of me is a burning candle, the last light that will shine for me. The marine pastor is here by me and talked to me a few last words. Everything I am doing now is the very last. But also for the last time I can think about all you. Stay always a good mother to your children. I ask forgiveness for all the headache and problems I have caused you. Stay strong in your heart and always think that your life belongs to the children. And don't be ashamed about my execution. Because you know as I do that I was not a criminal. Just a man who had a conviction who has to die for it. Many before me went the same way. But I will go now. Hundreds ... Dear Lieber, you understand. When the children are older and can think they will not think that their father was a criminal, but I regret that I had to leave you in this fashion. I would have liked to spend many more years in peace and unison with all of you. Now lieberkinder the last time farewell in this world. Your Robert and your papa. Be strong and overcome all of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5uHJLXaB2w

(The Cake Box has been located at 6054 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach for 42 years; 714-842-9132; cakeboxpastrieshun.wix.com/tingtonbeach)