Final answer:
No, Lenin and Stalin did not storm the Winter Palace together. While Lenin led the October Revolution, Stalin's role at the time was more behind the scenes. The portrayal of Stalin as a frontline revolutionary leader alongside Lenin was largely a product of Soviet propaganda to legitimize his rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, it is not factually accurate to say that Lenin and Stalin stormed the Winter Palace together. Vladimir Lenin was indeed the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, and he played a pivotal role in the events of the October Revolution, including the storming of the Winter Palace. However, Joseph Stalin's involvement in the revolution was not as prominent at that time, and he did not storm the Winter Palace alongside Lenin. While Lenin directed the Bolshevik uprising from the Smolny Institute, which served as the Revolution's headquarters, Stalin's role was more administrative and organizational.
Later historical narratives, especially during Stalin's rule, emphasized his role in the Revolution, often portraying him as a close comrade to Lenin, but these accounts were part of the Soviet effort to legitimize Stalin's leadership by linking him closely with Lenin. According to historical research, such as the works of Simon Sebag Montefiore and Deutscher, Stalin was active during the October Revolution and the subsequent Civil War, but he was not as well-known as Lenin at the time of the October Revolution.
Over time, the portrayal of Stalin was increasingly linked to Lenin in propaganda, essentially revising the history to suggest a closeness and a level of involvement that was not accurate. These portrayals were part of the official Soviet iconography that aimed to connect Stalin's legacy with that of Lenin, thereby enhancing his own legitimacy and revolutionary credentials.