Strachwitz attended the "Volksschule" (primary school) and the "Gymnasium" (advanced secondary school) in Oppeln—present-day Opole. He received further schooling and paramilitary training at the "Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps" (Royal Prussian cadet corps) in Wahlstatt—present-day Legnickie Pole—before he transferred to the "Hauptkadettenanstalt" (Main Military Academy) in Berlin-Lichterfelde. Among his closest friends at the cadet academy were Manfred von Richthofen, the World War I flying ace and a fellow Silesian, and Hans von Aulock, brother of the World War II colonel Andreas von Aulock. In August 1912, Cadet Strachwitz was admitted to the élite "Gardes du Corps" (Life Guards) cavalry regiment in Potsdam as a "Fähnrich" (Ensign). The Life Guards had been established by Prussian King Frederick the Great in 1740, and were considered the most prestigious posting in the Prussian Army. Their patron was Emperor Wilhelm II, who nominally commanded them. Strachwitz was sent to an officer training course at the "Kriegsschule" (War School) in Hanover in late 1912, where he excelled at various sports. Strachwitz was commissioned as "Leutnant" (Second Lieutenant) on 17 February 1914. At this early stage of his career in Potsdam, Strachwitz began insisting on being addressed as ""Herr Graf"" rather than ""Herr Leutnant"", even from higher-ranking officers, which he maintained throughout his career. According to Röll, he always felt prouder of his aristocratic descent than of his military rank. His close friends called him "Conté" (Count).