Hellenic Military Academy
Following the Balkan Wars, Hatzianestis had his seniority restored by special legislation; disregarding his earlier three-year period of absence from the army. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and became Director of the Hellenic Military Academy in August 1914. With the Greek mobilization in 1915, he was placed in command of the 5th Infantry Division at Drama, but after a mutiny among his troops in early 1916 he was shifted to command the 15th Infantry Division.