diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/__init__.py b/src/server/BreCal/__init__.py
index eb832f5..90869b3 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/__init__.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from .api import ships
 from .api import login
 from .api import user
 from .api import history
+from .api import latest
 
 from BreCal.brecal_utils.file_handling import get_project_root, ensure_path
 from BreCal.brecal_utils.test_handling import execute_test_with_pytest, execute_coverage_test
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ def create_app(test_config=None):
     app.register_blueprint(login.bp)
     app.register_blueprint(user.bp)
     app.register_blueprint(history.bp)
+    app.register_blueprint(latest.bp)
 
     logging.basicConfig(filename='brecaldevel.log', level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(asctime)s | %(name)s | %(levelname)s | %(message)s')
     local_db.initPool(os.path.dirname(app.instance_path))
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/__init__.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/__init__.py
index e69de29..7b19b24 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/__init__.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import typing
+import datetime
+
+# global dictionary, which informs about the latest change of a given database (e.g., 'berths')
+# initialize all values as null (None)
+latest_get_request_dict = {database:None for database in ["shipcalls", "ships", "times"]}
+
+def update_latest_modification_time(key:str, modification_time:datetime.datetime)->None:
+    """
+    This function updates the {latest_get_request_dict} inplace at the specified {key} with the defined {modification_time},
+    *if* the time is more recent than the currently stored value
+    """
+    global latest_get_request_dict
+    
+    value = latest_get_request_dict.get(key,None)
+    if value is None:
+        # when there is no value stored for the key, update the value
+        latest_get_request_dict[key] = modification_time
+    else:
+        # when the modification date is more recent than the stored value, update it
+        if modification_time > value:
+            latest_get_request_dict[key] = modification_time
+    
+    return
+
+def get_latest_modification_times()->dict[str,typing.Optional[str]]:
+    """
+    This function returns a dictionary, where each key determines the database name, and each value is either an isoformatted datetime
+    of the latest modification time, or None. 
+    """
+    global latest_get_request_dict
+    
+    latest_dict = {k:v.isoformat() if isinstance(v,datetime.datetime) else v for k,v in latest_get_request_dict.items()}
+    return latest_dict
+    
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/berths.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/berths.py
index ba8f4ff..0209851 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/berths.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/berths.py
@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@ def GetBerths():
         return impl.berths.GetBerths(token)
     else:
         return json.dumps("not authenticated"), 403
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/history.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/history.py
index c1fe5ad..33652a8 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/history.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/history.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ bp = Blueprint('history', __name__)
 
 @bp.route('/history', methods=['get'])
 @auth_guard() # no restriction by role
-def GetParticipant():
+def GetParticipant(): # #TODO: rename? Naming might be a copy-paste typo
 
     if 'Authorization' in request.headers:
         token = request.headers.get('Authorization')
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/latest.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/latest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d34ad5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/latest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from flask import Blueprint, request
+from webargs.flaskparser import parser
+from .. import impl
+from ..services.auth_guard import auth_guard
+import json
+
+bp = Blueprint('getlatest', __name__)
+
+
+@bp.route('/getlatest', methods=['get'])
+@auth_guard() # no restriction by role
+def GetLatest():
+    """This endpoint verifies the user and executes impl.latest.GetLatest"""
+    if 'Authorization' in request.headers:
+        token = request.headers.get('Authorization')        
+        return impl.latest.GetLatest(token)
+    else:
+        return json.dumps("not authenticated"), 403
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/notifications.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/notifications.py
index 48a2a44..c8225b5 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/notifications.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/notifications.py
@@ -16,4 +16,6 @@ def GetNotifications():
         return impl.notifications.GetNotifications(options)
     else:
         logging.warning("attempt to load notifications without shipcall id")
-        return json.dumps("missing argument"), 400
\ No newline at end of file
+        return json.dumps("missing argument"), 400
+
+        
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/shipcalls.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/shipcalls.py
index 396dc93..7d20949 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/shipcalls.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/shipcalls.py
@@ -53,3 +53,4 @@ def PutShipcalls():
         return json.dumps("bad format"), 400
 
     return impl.shipcalls.PutShipcalls(loadedModel)
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
index e31147e..e1f36b8 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
@@ -66,3 +66,5 @@ def DeleteShip():
         return json.dumps("bad format"), 400
 
     return impl.ships.DeleteShip(options)
+
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/times.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/times.py
index 2c90397..9e94a40 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/times.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/times.py
@@ -67,3 +67,4 @@ def DeleteTimes():
     else:
         logging.warning("Times delete missing id argument")
         return json.dumps("missing argument"), 400
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/__init__.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/__init__.py
index 93ec9fc..4577c7f 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/__init__.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/__init__.py
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ from . import times
 from . import ships
 from . import login
 from . import user
-from . import history
\ No newline at end of file
+from . import history
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/berths.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/berths.py
index 9087856..d020b3f 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/berths.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/berths.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import pydapper
+import datetime
 
 from ..schemas import model
 from .. import local_db
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ def GetBerths(token):
         pooledConnection = local_db.getPoolConnection()
         commands = pydapper.using(pooledConnection)
         data = commands.query("SELECT id, name, `lock`, owner_id, authority_id, created, modified, deleted FROM berth WHERE deleted = 0 ORDER BY name", model=model.Berth)
+        
         return json.dumps(data, default=model.obj_dict), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
     except Exception as ex:
@@ -30,3 +32,5 @@ def GetBerths(token):
 
 
 
+
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/history.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/history.py
index f408001..a592f57 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/history.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/history.py
@@ -37,3 +37,5 @@ def GetHistory(options):
 
     return json.dumps(data, default=model.obj_dict), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
+
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/latest.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/latest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bfa4b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/latest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import json
+import logging
+import pydapper
+import datetime
+
+from ..schemas import model
+from .. import local_db
+from BreCal.api import get_latest_modification_times
+
+def GetLatest(token):
+    """
+    Returns a dictionary of the latest modification dates within the databases 'ships', 'shipcalls' and 'times'. When there has not yet been a modification, this method returns null.
+    Creates a dictionary of type dict[str, typing.Optional[datetime.datetime]]
+    """
+
+    try:
+        data = get_latest_modification_times()
+        return json.dumps(data), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
+
+    except Exception as ex:
+        logging.error(ex)
+        print(ex)
+        result = {}
+        result["message"] = "call failed"
+        return json.dumps(result), 500
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/notifications.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/notifications.py
index 67619ab..697b761 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/notifications.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/notifications.py
@@ -30,3 +30,4 @@ def GetNotifications(options):
     return json.dumps(data, default=model.obj_dict), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
 
+
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/shipcalls.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/shipcalls.py
index 59f9311..3b72c3c 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/shipcalls.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/shipcalls.py
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ import json
 import logging
 import traceback
 import pydapper
+import datetime
 
 from ..schemas import model
 from .. import local_db
 from ..services.auth_guard import check_jwt
 
 from BreCal.database.update_database import evaluate_shipcall_state
+from BreCal.api import update_latest_modification_time
 
 def GetShipcalls(options):
     """
@@ -140,6 +142,9 @@ def PostShipcalls(schemaModel):
         user_data = check_jwt()
         query = "INSERT INTO history (participant_id, shipcall_id, user_id, timestamp, eta, type, operation) VALUES (?pid?, ?scid?, ?uid?, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 1, 1)"
         commands.execute(query, {"scid" : new_id, "pid" : user_data["participant_id"], "uid" : user_data["id"]})
+        
+        # track the latest update in the global dictionary
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="shipcalls",modification_time=datetime.datetime.now()) # new_id
 
         return json.dumps({"id" : new_id}), 201, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
@@ -243,6 +248,9 @@ def PutShipcalls(schemaModel):
         query = "INSERT INTO history (participant_id, shipcall_id, user_id, timestamp, eta, type, operation) VALUES (?pid?, ?scid?, ?uid?, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 1, 2)"
         commands.execute(query, {"scid" : schemaModel["id"], "pid" : user_data["participant_id"], "uid" : user_data["id"]})
 
+        # track the latest update in the global dictionary
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="shipcalls",modification_time=datetime.datetime.now()) # schemaModel["id"]
+
         return json.dumps({"id" : schemaModel["id"]}), 200
 
     except Exception as ex:
@@ -256,4 +264,3 @@ def PutShipcalls(schemaModel):
     finally:
         if pooledConnection is not None:
             pooledConnection.close()
-
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/ships.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/ships.py
index b0b0b94..857a096 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/ships.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/ships.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import pydapper
+import datetime
 
 from ..schemas import model
 from .. import local_db
+from BreCal.api import update_latest_modification_time
 
 def GetShips(token):
     """
@@ -11,10 +13,10 @@ def GetShips(token):
     """
 
     try:
-
         pooledConnection = local_db.getPoolConnection()
         commands = pydapper.using(pooledConnection)
         data = commands.query("SELECT id, name, imo, callsign, participant_id, length, width, is_tug, bollard_pull, eni, created, modified, deleted FROM ship ORDER BY name", model=model.Ship)
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="ships", modification_time=datetime.datetime.now())
 
         return json.dumps(data, default=model.obj_dict), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
@@ -156,4 +158,5 @@ def DeleteShip(options):
         print(ex)
         result = {}
         result["message"] = "call failed"
-        return json.dumps(result), 500, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
\ No newline at end of file
+        return json.dumps(result), 500, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
+        
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/impl/times.py b/src/server/BreCal/impl/times.py
index 1f16574..fa9cb79 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/impl/times.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/impl/times.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ import json
 import logging
 import traceback
 import pydapper
+import datetime
 
 from ..schemas import model
 from .. import local_db
 from ..services.auth_guard import check_jwt
 
+from BreCal.api import update_latest_modification_time
 from BreCal.database.update_database import evaluate_shipcall_state
 
 def GetTimes(options):
@@ -91,6 +93,9 @@ def PostTimes(schemaModel):
         user_data = check_jwt()
         query = "INSERT INTO history (participant_id, shipcall_id, user_id, timestamp, eta, type, operation) VALUES (?pid?, ?scid?, ?uid?, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 2, 1)"
         commands.execute(query, {"scid" : schemaModel["shipcall_id"], "pid" : user_data["participant_id"], "uid" : user_data["id"]})
+        
+        # track the latest update in the global dictionary
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="times", modification_time=datetime.datetime.now()) # new_id
 
         return json.dumps({"id" : new_id}), 201, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ def PutTimes(schemaModel):
         query += "WHERE id = ?id?"
 
         affected_rows = commands.execute(query, param=schemaModel)
+        new_id = commands.execute_scalar("select last_insert_id()")
 
         # apply 'Traffic Light' evaluation to obtain 'GREEN', 'YELLOW' or 'RED' evaluation state. The function internally updates the mysql database 'shipcall'
         evaluate_shipcall_state(mysql_connector_instance=pooledConnection, shipcall_id=schemaModel["shipcall_id"]) # every times data object refers to the 'shipcall_id'
@@ -151,6 +157,9 @@ def PutTimes(schemaModel):
 
         # if affected_rows == 1: # this doesn't work as expected
 
+        # track the latest update in the global dictionary
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="times", modification_time=datetime.datetime.now()) # new_id
+        
         return json.dumps({"id" : schemaModel["id"]}), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
     except Exception as ex:
@@ -185,6 +194,10 @@ def DeleteTimes(options):
         query = "INSERT INTO history (participant_id, shipcall_id, user_id, timestamp, eta, type, operation) VALUES (?pid?, ?shipcall_id?, ?uid?, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 2, 3)"
         commands.execute(query, {"pid" : user_data["participant_id"], "shipcall_id" : shipcall_id, "uid" : user_data["id"]})
 
+        # track the latest update in the global dictionary
+        ###### could use a query similar to this one: modification_time = commands.execute_scalar("SELECT modified FROM times WHERE id = ?id?", param={"id" : options["id"]}) # clarify: when modified is null, created should be used...
+        update_latest_modification_time(key="times", modification_time=datetime.datetime.now()) # options["id"]
+        
         if affected_rows == 1:
             return json.dumps({"id" : options["id"]}), 200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'}
 
@@ -201,4 +214,4 @@ def DeleteTimes(options):
 
     finally:
         if pooledConnection is not None:
-            pooledConnection.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+            pooledConnection.close()