Born in Athens on 5 March 1871, Pallis entered the Hellenic Military Academy and graduated on 31 July 1883 as an Artillery 2nd Lieutenant.

[2] During the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 he served as a staff officer in the General Headquarters of the Crown Prince, and later King, Constantine I of Greece.

[2] Due to his monarchist views, he was dismissed from the army in 1917–20, but after the electoral victory of the pro-monarchist United Opposition in November 1920, he was recalled to active service and appointed chief of staff to the Army of Asia Minor, under Lieutenant General Anastasios Papoulas.

In 1927, the Special Military Council decided his re-activation and promotion to lieutenant general, but Pallis declined and resumed his retirement.

[5] Upon the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War on 28 October 1940, Pallis was recalled to active service and placed Chief of the Field Army General Staff, a position he held until February 1941.