X-ray measurements of stretched crosslinked liquid-crystalline side group polymers show that two types of orientation of the mesogenic groups relative to the polymer chains (parallel or perpendicular) are possible, depending on the structure of the polymer chain. For two liquid-crystalline polymethacrylates with long spacer groups (6 methylene units) the mesogenic groups orient preferably perpendicularly to the polymer chains (axis of strain). For three liquid-crystalline polyacrylates with long or short spacer groups (6 or 2 methylene units), the mesogenic groups orient preferably parallel to the polymer chains (axis of strain). The reason for this difference is not yet clear. These result…