Wiktionary
ratissage
n. 1 A raid (especially violent) carried out by the police or military, originally and chiefly carried out by the French in Algeria. (from 1950s) 2 (context economics English) A monetary device whereby national reserves are temporarily given up to a central bank. (from 1950s)
Usage examples of "ratissage".
But it was likely that he was told it was a retribution raid, a ratissage, and not the search for half a ton of gold that was to provide a comfortable living for three senior officers after the war.
Dickmann authorized large-scale ratissages looting of French towns under the pretext of searching for Maquis suspects, but in reality looking for gold.