why lithuanians dont consider themselves to be balts?

ok so this is a pretty interesting question. you have-ton of memes about how lithuanians constantly try convince everyone they are not balts but germans. but why? from my observations as a foreigner the reason for this is an ancient preconception that lithuanians consider balts underdeveloped people, and germans "superior" to balts in every way. in a way they are right because germans have achieved many things lithuanians could only dream about. but little lithuania will never be german and little lithuanians will not become germans.