During World War II, Witold Ostrowski lived in Buda Piaseczne, currently in the Zawidz municipality in the Mazowieki province, He lived there together with his parents, his brothers and his wife, Bolesława (nee Sawicka). His family operated a village farm. In July 1943, a young Jewish girl, Róża Grynbaum, appeared at the home asking for shelter for a few weeks.
Róża grew up in Gąbin, in the Płock District, in the affluent family of a merchant and owner of the local cinema. In the spring of 1942, her brother, Albert, escaped from the Gąbiń ghetto, in the Reichsgau Wartheland,to the General Government, in the hope that it would be easier for him to survive the War there.
Róża left the ghetto in March 1942 and, over a few months, stayed in the Strzegowa ghetto in the Mława District. Before the her parents’ escape from the Gąbin ghetto could be organised, the ghetto was liquidated, in April and May 1942, and its inhabitants were either murdered on the spot and in the Chełm extermination camp.
At the beginning of 1943, Róża was cared for by Jan and Sabina Sołdański in the village of Kocewo, Żuromiński District, Mazowiecki Province. She was forced to leave their home when the neighbours became suspicious. The Ostrowski family then took her in and treated her as one of the family. Róża suggested to her guardians that they introduce her as a member of the family. In an interview for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Witold Ostrowski recalls, ”She and my mother discussed it and straiht away declared they would refer to each other as ‘cousin’”.
Róża dyed her hair and together with Maria Ostrowska, Witold’s mother, she went to church in Koziebrody, Płońsk District, in order to prevent any possible suspicion. Ostrowski obatined papers for Róża under the name of ”Jadwiga Maciejewska”. He also constructed a few shelters, among them in the house and in the farm building, from which Róża benefitted during moments of danger. Róża helped with the farm work and also knitted gloves and scarves.
Róża stayed with the Ostrowski family until 21st January 1945. Witold Ostrowski’s father, Antoni, assisted Róża in returning to her home town of Gąbin, where she was reunited with her brother, Albert, who had survived through being hidden by Helena Grabarek in the village of Niedzieliska. Albert and Róża left Poland and, eventually, both had families of their own. Róża (Rosa) Dinerman maintained constant correspondence contact with the Ostrowski family. In 1987, she visited them in Poland.
