Abstract: A ferroelectric, liquid-crystalline polymer is composed of repeating units of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Y=H, CH.sub.3 or F,R.sup.1 =a radical having at least two chiral centers such as for example ##STR2## a=2 to 20, preferably 6 to 12, b,c,d,e and f=0 or 1 with the proviso that d+e+f=2 or 3,A.sup.1,A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 =for example, 1,4-phenylene, cyclohexylene or 2,5-pyrimidinediyl,M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 =CO--O, O--CO, CO--S, S--CO, CH.sub.2 --O, O--CH.sub.2, and ##STR3## These liquid-crystalline polymers have short response times and resistance to mechanical stresses.They can be prepared by free-radical polymerization.

Abstract: A ferroelectric, liquid-crystalline polymer is composed of repeating units of the formula I ##STR1## in which Y=H or CH.sub.3a=an integer from 6 to 12M=a group selected from the formulae which follow: ##STR2## in which --R.sup.2 =--CH.sub.3 or --Cl and b=an integer from 1 to 10. The abovementioned polymer has remarkably short response times. The polymer forms, alone or mixed with other LC components, an orthogonal smectic phase. It is possible to use this phase in the electroclinic mode.

Abstract: A ferroelectric, liquid-crystalline polymer is composed of repeating units of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Y.sup.1 =H, CH.sub.3 or FY.sup.2 =H or FR.sup.1 = ##STR2## or an achiral alkyl having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, and R.sup.3 =H or CH.sub.3R.sup.2 =CH.sub.3, Cl or CNg and h=an integer from 0 to 10a=2 to 20, preferably 6 to 12b,c,d,e and f=0 or 1, where d+e+f=2 or 3A.sup.1,A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 =for example, 1,4-phenylene in which one or two hydrogen atoms may be substituted by F, Cl and/or CN, 1,4-cyclohexylene andM.sup.1,M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 =for example, CO--O or O--CO.These liquid-crystalline polymers have short response times and high resistance to mechanical stresses. They can be prepared by free-radical polymerization.