At the end of February 1940 the commanding general of the 1st Panzer Division, "Generalleutnant" (Lieutenant General) Rudolf Schmidt, was replaced by "Generalmajor" Friedrich Kirchner. At the time, Strachwitz was sick with meningitis and was hospitalised in early March. While he was on sick leave, the division was relocated to the South Eifel on 3 March. The "Stab" established the headquarters in the hotel "Union" in Cochem. The division, along with 2nd and 10th Panzer Divisions, were subordinated to XIX "Armeekorps" under the command of "General der Panzertruppe" (General of the Armoured Corps) Heinz Guderian. The soldiers were awaiting the order for "Fall Gelb" (Case Yellow), Hitler's directive for the Battle of France. The 1st Panzer Division had orders to cross the border at Wallendorf heading towards Luxemburg, taking the Belgian first line of defence at Martelange and then Neufchâteau. The first main objective was the Meuse River (Maas River) northwest of Sedan. Strachwitz was hospitalised again from 28 April to 9 May 1940, receiving treatment for an injured foot.