Why did soldiers abandon there weapons at Dunkirk?

Soldiers abandoned their weapons at Dunkirk primarily due to the desperate situation during the evacuation in May 1940. As Allied forces faced encirclement by German troops, the urgency to escape outweighed the need to carry heavy equipment. With limited time and resources, many soldiers prioritized saving their lives and retreating to safety over retaining their weapons. This led to a chaotic evacuation, where thousands of men left their gear behind on the beaches.