From 1938 to 1945 it was one of the municipalities in Sudetenland. During World War II, Falkenau was the site of a sub-camp of the Flossenbürg concentration camp. The camp at Falkenau was captured by the U.S. 1st Infantry Division on 6 May 1945. Nearly all of the town's population, being Germans, were expelled after 1945. Demographics Transport The D6 motorway runs through the town. Sport The town is home to a professional football club, FK Baník Sokolov. Sights The Church of Saint James the Great is one of the landmarks of the town centre. It was first documented in the 13th century and rebuilt in the late Renaissance style in 1632–1637. In 1671–1681, it was modified in the early Baroque style. The church tower is built in the spirit of the Saxon Renaissance. The Sokolov Château was built on the site of a former water fortress in late Renaissance and early Baroque styles. In 1800–1805, the building was modified in the Neoclassical style. Since 1960, the château has been the seat of the Regional Museum, focused mainly on the development of mining and the history of the region. Notable people Ernst Hammer (1884–1957), German military officer Václav Blažek (born 1959), historical linguist Štefan Füle (born 1962), diplomat Markéta Vondroušová (born 1999), tennis player Twin towns – sister cities Sokolov is twinned with: Saalfeld, Germany Schwandorf, Germany References External links Regional Tourist Portal Populated places in Sokolov District Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Mining communities in the Czech Republic