Joachim Low's side are one of the favourites for the showpiece in Brazil later this year, having eased to nine wins and a draw in an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Yet, in an era when they have been rightly lauded for their new-found attacking style, Germany were forced to rely on the methods of their predecessors when sneaking the spoils against a Chile side who lent further weight to the theory that they will be a match for anybody when the tournament starts in June.
On a night when much of the focus centred on whether Miroslav Klose could grab the one goal required to become Germany's most prolific marksman of all time, it was Gotze who earned the victory.
The fact that Klose, who was withdrawn at half-time, remains level with the legendary Gerd Muller on 68 goals will not detract from an impressive win for Low's men.
Germany seemed particularly confused by the visitors' 3-3-1-3 formation as Chile's fluidity repeatedly caught their opponents out.
One of their counter-attacks almost led to an opener as Gonzalo Jara's excellent diagonal ball found Mauricio Isla, whose cross was intercepted by Jerome Boateng with Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez lurking for a simple tap-in.
The famous goal that man-of-the-moment Klose craved then almost came, albeit in fortuitous fashion, as the striker mis-controlled Kevin Grosskreutz's powerful effort towards goal to force a solid, diving stop from Johnny Herrera.
Manuel Neuer's goal was under siege for the remainder of the half but a resolute defence was on hand to produce a series of last-ditch blocks as Germany sealed the win.
