Following the Second World War, Leipzig became part of the German Democratic Republic, where the family's middle class status was sometimes an issue in the socialist state.
East German state policies encouraged women into technical fields such as engineering although Gottzein struggled to get a recommendation for further study due to her family's status.
[2] Gottzein eventually managed to enroll at the Technical University of Dresden (1952–1957), studying Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Physics after receiving a recommendation of her employer.
Her family were put under surveillance due to her action and her sister, a skilled glider pilot, was banned from flying in case she attempted to join her.
[2] Gottzein was processed through the refugee reception centre in Gießen and was determined to study in Darmstadt, having researched the professors on the staff there, including Heinrich Barkhausen.
[1] To earn money to fund herself during her studies Gottzein sold knitting machines then worked as an engineer at the Electronic Associates’ European Simulation Centre in Brussels.