During the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 he fought as an officer in the 8th Infantry Regiment, and was wounded in the siege of Ioannina. He particularly distinguished himself during the Battle of Kilkis–Lachanas in the Second Balkan War. Serving as adjutant of the regimental commander, Col. Kambanis, he concealed the Colonel's death from the troops and took over command of the regiment until the end of the battle. In 1917–18 he served as commander of the 35th Infantry Regiment at the Strymon sector of the Macedonian front. In 1919 he participated with his regiment in the Allied intervention in the Ukraine, landing at Odessa.