A Historic Industrial Hub
The earliest history of the region is closely linked to Slavic agriculture and German colonization. Mining of ores and coal gradually transformed the region into an industrial area, complemented by glassmaking, textile and engineering industries, as well as the production of musical instruments in Kraslice. Following the Munich Agreement in 1938, the Sokolov region was incorporated into Nazi Germany.
Post-War Resettlement and a Diverse Mosaic of Newcomers
The year 1945 brought the expulsion of the German population and the arrival of new settlers seeking employment in the mining industry. In response to an appeal by President Edvard Beneš, as well as through compulsory labour programmes, various groups of people came to the region:
- Czechs and Slovaks from the inland parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia.
- Re-emigrants from abroad: Slovaks from Romania, Hungary and France; Czech exiles from Poland and Germany whose ancestors had left in the 17th century for religious reasons.
- Hungarians and Rusyns: Hungarians who came to work in mines, steelworks and textile factories, and Rusyns from eastern Slovakia.
- Refugees fleeing the war: Greek and Macedonian children who came to Jindřichovice.
The new population brought with it a rich social and religious life (Protestants and Roman Catholics), which was also reflected in amateur theatre and other cultural activities in places such as Oloví and Jindřichovice.
The Present Day and Minority Life
Today, alongside the majority population, the Sokolov region is home to Slovaks, Germans, Roma, Vietnamese, Ukrainians and Russians. Integration takes place naturally – national minority associations are active throughout the region, such as the Regional Association of Slovaks in Sokolov and the Association of Germans in Kraslice. Their representatives also serve on the Committee for National Minorities of the Karlovy Vary Region.
The region’s traditions and cultural diversity are celebrated every year at the beginning of September in Sokolov during the Day of National Minorities, where the public can experience the national cuisine, music and traditions of all generations of newcomers.