Hohenjesar

 village, quarter (urban subdivision)

Hohenjesar, a small hamlet, now suburbanized by Zeschdorf.

Since 1537 the residence of the noble family "von Burgsdorff", also "Burgdorf" or "Borgdorf". The family donated the baroque church, built approx. 1721 bis 1723 and destroyed in 1945 by artillery.

In Hohenjesar in 1906 Karl Henning Konrad von Burgdorff was laid to rest. He was at first the military commander of the small station Gibeon in German Southwest Africa, then "Bezirksamtmann" (sort of Governor). Under his leadership Gibeon was booming. When he tried to prevent his friend Hendrik Witboi from insurrection, he was shot by Solomon Sahl in the back (Oct. 4th 1904). Several times buried und deterred in German Southwest Africa, he was finally transferred to Germany

The way of thinking of "von Burgdorff": He was asked in a theological discussion with one of his Blacks - who was puzzled by the speech of the missionary - : "Please tell me, Eve, Adam’s wife, what colour did she have?" Burgdorff answered: "Well, hm, one week white, next week black …"

Source: Der Hauptmann, Alhard von Burgdorff-Garath, John Meinert (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, SWA/Namibia, 1982, ISBN 0-602-05863-3.

Pictures: Henning von Burgdorff "as Civilian", and f.l.t.r.: Hendrik Witboi, Henning von Burgdorff, Simon Kooper and Samuel Isaak.