In this article we study the emergence of local solidarity in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis in Germany. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown measures have had far-reaching and quite diverse consequences for different social groups, and have increased the need for practical help, childcare, financial aid, but also emotional support to cope with the psychological consequences of social isolation. Hence, even individuals who are not traditionally receivers of informal help have suddenly become dependent on it. Existing research on volunteering, caregiving and donations has shown that the provision of help and volunteer work has a social gradient, and that social inequalities therein can partly be explained by reference to individuals’ attitudes and social networks. Against this backdrop, we ask: (1) Has the COVID-19 pandemic sparked the emergence of a new local solidarity? (2) What types of help are provided, and to whom? (3) How does socio-economic position affect the provision of different forms of help during the COVID-19 crisis? (4) Which sociological mechanisms can explain these inequalities in helping? Using data from a topical online-survey based on a quota sample which was collected, during the heydays of the first lockdown in Germany, we find that one of two respondents engages in some sort of local solidarity. Depending on the recipient and the way of helping – up to half of these helping arrangements has newly emerged and does not build on already existing (pre-crisis) help-arrangements. Differences between income and educational groups can mostly be explained by attitudes and social networks. Embeddedness in formal networks is particularly important for extending help to previously unknown recipients in the community. This article contributes to the literature on the social origins of help and the initiation of social capital during crises in general, and the political discussion about solidarity in the COVID-19 pandemic in particular.

在本文中，我们研究了德国 COVID-19 危机后当地团结的出现。 COVID-19大流行和随后的封锁措施对不同的社会群体产生了深远且截然不同的影响，并增加了对实际帮助、儿童保育、经济援助以及情感支持的需求，以应对社会孤立的心理后果。因此，即使是传统上不接受非正式帮助的个人也突然变得依赖于非正式帮助。现有关于志愿服务、护理和捐赠的研究表明，提供帮助和志愿工作具有社会梯度，其中的社会不平等可以部分地通过个人的态度和社交网络来解释。在此背景下，我们要问：（1）COVID-19大流行是否引发了新的地方团结的出现？ (2) 提供哪些类型的帮助以及向谁提供？ (3) 社会经济地位如何影响在 COVID-19 危机期间提供不同形式的帮助？ (4) 哪些社会学机制可以解释这些帮助不平等？根据在德国第一次封锁的鼎盛时期收集的配额样本进行的专题在线调查的数据，我们发现两名受访者中有一人参与了某种当地团结活动。根据援助对象和援助方式，多达一半的援助安排是新出现的，并非建立在现有（危机前）援助安排的基础上。收入和教育群体之间的差异主要可以通过态度和社交网络来解释。嵌入正式网络对于向社区中以前未知的接受者提供帮助尤其重要。 本文为有关一般危机期间帮助的社会起源和社会资本启动的文献，特别是关于 COVID-19 大流行中团结的政治讨论做出了贡献。