Having relinquished control of top spot after a disappointing draw with rivals Bochum last weekend, Dortmund knew a victory against Europe-chasing Wolfsburg was essential to keep in touch with leaders Bayern.
Roared on by the fervent home support, Edin Terzic’s side started in confident fashion, and took an early lead inside 15 minutes, when Karim Adeyemi rose highest in the box to power home a brilliant header from Julien Ryerson’s delivery.
Desperate to extend their nine-match winning run on home soil - their longest streak since 1994 - Dortmund went in pursuit of a swift second, however it was goalkeeper Gregor Kobel who came to the hosts’ rescue, saving superbly from Patrick Wimmer.
Grateful for the reprieve, Dortmund quickly regained their composure and punished Wolfsburg just eight minutes later, as Adeyemi drilled a low cross into the path of Sebastien Haller, who tapped home for his fifth goal of the campaign.
Armed with a two-goal lead, the hosts looked to press home their advantage before the break, and their ambition was duly rewarded eight minutes before the interval when Julian Brandt broke the offside trap, before unselfishly squaring the ball to Donyell Malen to apply a simple finishing touch.
Having been severely punished for a disastrous first half performance, Wolfsburg’s woes were deepened further after the break, with Dortmund adding two goals in the space of five minutes.
First, Jude Bellingham raced clear from his own half to score a sublime solo effort, before Adeyemi tucked home his second of the afternoon from close range.
Despite their commanding advantage, the hosts remained intent on committing numbers forward at every opportunity, and Adeyemi spurned a glorious chance to notch a first hat-trick for Die Schwarzgelben - firing a spot-kick narrowly over the bar.
Ultimately, this counted for little as Dortmund coasted through the final 20 minutes and added a late sixth through Bellingham to move within a point of Bayern at the summit with three matches remaining.
As for the visitors, Die Wolfe remain two points adrift of the top-six, after suffering their joint-heaviest defeat in Bundesliga history.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund)
