The village was first mentioned in 1254. After the
Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466), the area became a part of a Polish
fief held by the
Teutonic Knights and by secular
Ducal Prussia until 1657. From 1701, it formed part of the
Kingdom of Prussia, and from 1871 it was also part of
Germany. In 1878, the village had a population of 566, mostly employed in fishing. It was annexed by the
Soviet Union in 1945 upon the end of
World War II and renamed Pionersky after the children's health camp of the
Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union that was established in the town after the war by the new Soviet authorities. The town's small harbor, formerly used only for fishing, now accommodates sailboats and beach tourism. ==Administrative and municipal status==